Understanding Contributing Factors to Pedestrian Related Crashes of Massachusetts Using Factor Map Analysis

Pedestrian safety remains a critical concern in traffic management, with the interplay among influential factors relatively uncharted. Therefore, this study aims to uncover hidden patterns that could reveal the relations among the contributing factors to pedestrian related crashes. This study employs factor map analysis using the multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) tool to explore the impact and connections of factors such as weather conditions, temporal trends, and road types on pedestrian crashes. MCA organizes variables with similar crash dynamics, enabling effective statistical and qualitative analysis. Using data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the study identifies major factors such as backing vehicle movement, outside roadway, rainy weather, and wet road surface conditions, alongside three distinct groups of variables. This study highlights the importance of addressing multifaceted variables in pedestrian crash analysis. By identifying these important connections, the study enhances our understanding of pedestrian crash dynamics and provides a basis for more in-depth future research and specific safety measures.