Road Safety
- Publication no: AP-G115-26
- ISBN: 978-1-923617-52-0
- Published: 19 May 2026
- PDF (free) Download
This Guideline provides practical advice for Austroads members about what data is available for measuring pedestrian safety and how best to collect and use it.
The advice is based on research that included an academic literature review, practitioner surveys and interviews, government authority website searches, and international database exploration.
This Guideline covers the difference between the ‘ideal’ versus ‘minimum’ data sets. The recommended minimum data set requires minimal cost and effort to collect while making a strong contribution to pedestrian safety objectives. The recommended minimum data for measuring pedestrian safety includes exposure and demographics, crashes and casualties, and environmental data (pedestrian facilities, traffic).
Case studies are presented to illustrate the state of practice and a gap analysis indicates where Austroads members could focus future effort.
Data Framework Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet has been developed to support this Guideline, collating various existing data sets currently available and used by different jurisdictions . The spreadsheet outlines the various types of pedestrian data investigated (particularly those that could be relevant to pedestrian safety) and provides examples of what would be considered ‘acceptable’, ‘good’, or ‘ideal’ instances of each data set.
Download the Data Framework Spreadsheet [Excel | 226 KB]
About the project:
Austroads' Keeping People Safe When Walking project envisions a road and street network that places pedestrian safety at its core—regardless of age, race, gender, socioeconomic background, or physical ability. The project supports both national and local efforts to achieve Vision Zero targets: a 50% reduction in pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries by 2030, and their complete elimination by 2050.
To realise this vision, the project draws on data-driven insights to better understand pedestrian trauma and inform impactful interventions across the Safe System.
This Guideline and the Data Framework Spreadhsheet form part of the Stream 2 of the project and accompany the report Keeping People Safe When Walking – Stream 2: Determining the Minimum Data Requirements to Progress Pedestrian Safety.
- Summary
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Purpose
- 1.2 Scope
- 1.3 Methodology
- 1.4 A Safe System for pedestrians
- 1.5 How to use this Guideline
- 2. Practical Considerations
- 2.1 Minimum versus ideal data requirements
- 2.1.1 Cost and effort to collect data
- 2.1.2 Contribution to pedestrian safety objectives
- 2.1.3 Alternatives to collecting a minimum data type (proxy measures)
- 2.2 Data collection and monitoring
- 2.2.1 Methods for collecting and storing data
- 2.2.2 Data accuracy and precision issues
- 2.2.3 Frequency of data gathering
- 2.1 Minimum versus ideal data requirements
- 3. Types of Pedestrian Safety Data
- 3.1 Pedestrian travel data
- 3.1.1 Trip usage
- 3.1.2 Trip purpose and demographics
- 3.2 Pedestrian casualty data
- 3.2.1 Police-reported crash data
- 3.2.2 Linked police and health data sets
- 3.3 Pedestrian facility data
- 3.4 Motor vehicle data
- 3.4.1 Traffic volumes
- 3.4.2 Traffic speeds
- 3.4.3 Vehicle types and composition
- 3.5 Other potential pedestrian safety measures or metrics
- 3.5.1 Perceived walking safety and security
- 3.5.2 Bicycle and micro-mobility users
- 3.5.3 Pedestrians with disability
- 3.5.4 Pedestrian slips, trips and falls
- 3.1 Pedestrian travel data
- 4. Recommended Minimum Data Requirements
- 4.1 Pedestrian safety data framework
- 4.2 Minimum data set needs by scale
- 4.3 Data Framework Spreadsheet
- 4.4 Minimum data sets publicly available by jurisdiction
- 4.5 Summary of data gaps
- References
Austroads’ literature review of hazard perception tests identifies what makes these tests effective, with a particular focus on novice drivers. It shows that the ability to anticipate and respond to hazards is a critical skill linked to safer driving and reduced crash risk.