TITLE:
Economic Cost of Pedestrian Injuries in Stockholm City
AUTHORS:
Sandra Pahrne, Johanna Y. Andrews Chavez, Koustuv Dalal
KEYWORDS:
Pedestrian Injuries, Zebra Crossing, Speed Bump, Lights, Cost, Savings, Sweden
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.6 No.19,
November
24,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective: To conduct a cost analysis of pedestrian injuries at zebra crossings (marked lines only) in Stockholm city during 2008, and propose an intervention for reducing these incidents. Cost savings for the intervention are calculated and presented. Method: A Cost of Illness (COI) method was used to calculate the cost for pedestrian injuries at zebra crossings. Cost of Illness included direct and indirect costs and excluded intangible costs due to lack of data. Data and statistics from STRADA, PAR and calculations from MSB were used to perform the COI. Results: During 2008, 73 pedestrians were injured at zebra crossings in Stockholm city, amounting an estimated social cost of 10.8 million Swedish Krona (SEK) (severe injuries 9.2 million SEK, minor injuries 1.6 million SEK). The costs for reducing pedestrian injuries and related social burden via the proposed intervention (zebra crossings constructed alongside asphalt speed bumps with adjacent lights on both sides of the crossing) were estimated to be 250,000 SEK at roads without intersections, and 1.6 million SEK at roads with an intersection. Conclusion: Pedestrian injuries place a large financial burden on society each year. It is recommended to add speed bumps and adjacent lights to zebra crossings where most pedestrian injuries occur. The intervention would reduce pedestrian injuries and also decrease the cost for the society due to these injuries. Cost savings for the intervention depend on the kind of injury avoided and what kind of road the intervention is built on.