Abstract:
One of the most important forms of transport is by walking and contributing to safe and
comfortable environment. Eventually increase in vehicular traffic for faster connectivity has led
to the widening of roads and subsequently degradation of walking environment. Urban sidewalks
are the spaces provided for the pedestrians and their varied activities but are undervalued in
terms of pedestrians' needs such as comfort, mobility, safety and convenience.
The aim of this study is to investigate on the cause of pedestrian accidents at roadside walkway
and possible interventions in Jimma town road, In Jimma town sufficient and comfortable
pedestrian walkways are not constructed for the pedestrians who account the major trip
percentage in the city and miss-use of the existing facilities, Based on the results of the analysis
to set conclusions and recommendations for possible future considerations during roadside
walkway design in the town.
Different researchers and writers use various types of approaches for identification of causes of
pedestrian accident. The literature review part covers mechanisms used by some of the scholars
and organization to identify causes and analyze their impact.
The result of the study revealed that, 104 pedestrian Accidents have occurred in the town in the study
period from 2013 to 2015 and also the analysis result show that out of four selected routes which
were included in this study area only one route meet the standard; the other three routes not
satisfy the standard roadside walkway from those routes two of them have no walkway. The
main reasons rose from respondents and document review results those taken from filed
measurement, Jimma town administration and Jimma town police office recorded accident data
and jimma town structural master plan comparing the existing condition of the walkways.
It was concluded that, the frequency of occurrence of pedestrian accidents and number of casualties
is escalating from time to time and the most roadside walkway are not fit to the standard so that
the town administration must redesign according to the international standard roadside walk way,
provide buffers, upgrade the existing walkways and construct standard roadside walkway the
place where there is no walkway at all.
