Risk analysis and safety-security strategies for pedestrian routes: an application of the Haddon Matrix Framework

The safety-security of pedestrian pathways, both urban and non-urban, is a priority in urban planning policies and infrastructure design. Through the application of the Haddon matrix for risk analysis and management in pedestrian paths, the aim is to provide a methodology for identifying and classifying risk factors on urban and non-urban paths. The proposed methodology combines the classical expression of risk with three main categories of variables proposed in the Haddon matrix: the characteristics of pedestrians (e.g., age, gender, walking alone or in a group), infrastructural aspects, and environmental elements. For each type of risk, the analysis examines how infrastructure design and public policies can influence safety and security risks through specific interventions. To complement the analysis, a three-dimensional representation model based on Cartesian axes is proposed to visualize the position of risks according to the likelihood of an incident, its impact, and Haddon’s factors. The approach is proposed to improve the safety-security, effectiveness, and accessibility of pedestrian networks, integrating innovation and digitalization with an accurate risk assessment for the creation of safer and more affordable public spaces, thus contributing to sustainable mobility and promoting pedestrian paths as ecological and safe alternatives for the community.