Human Factors Assessment of Pedestrian Roadway Crossing Behavior

Summary

The overarching goal of this study was to determine which factors influence when and where pedestrians cross the roadway. Both factors associated with pedestrians and factors associated with the crossing environment were examined. Although factors intrinsic to pedestrians are not easily manipulated, measures that increase safety can be implemented in areas dominated by one specific demographic group (e.g., older adults near a retirement community or smaller children near a school). Furthermore, educational methods can be used to help pedestrians make wiser crossing choices.

Environmental factors were explored at 20 different crossing locations. A model was developed that relatively successfully predicted whether pedestrians would cross within the marked crossing or not. While this model is not 100-percent accurate, it does provide a basis to understand where pedestrians might cross the roadway. This model may prove useful in the design, or renovation, of new roadways and shared use communities. Areas that have a high predicted likelihood of unmarked non-intersection crossings could be proactively targeted to modify the crossing affordances of the environment.

The data here provide insights into some of the specific environmental factors that influence where and when pedestrians cross the road. Some suggestions are provided for ways these factors can be modified to influence pedestrian behavior (e.g., reducing crossing affordances by adding flower beds separating the sidewalk and roadway). Evidence is also provided that suggests modifying environmental affordances to alter perceived control of the crossing will modify where pedestrians cross the roadway. This can be accomplished by both increasing the control of the marked crossing signal (e.g., activated button presses, timed countdowns, traffic flow information) and reducing control outside the marked crossings (e.g., including road barriers, removing medians in bi-directional traffic). However, it should be noted that these modifications can have unintended consequences in crossing behavior and should be evaluated carefully. The exact interaction and interplay of these factors is not fully understood.

An important consideration in environmental factor manipulation is the safety impacts of modifying where pedestrians cross the roadway. It is not known whether pedestrian crossings in the intersection are actually safer than crossings made at non-intersection locations. In fact, of the crossings in the 20 different locations, the only near incident took place in a marked intersection. At Location 7, two pedestrians were about to enter the roadway while at the same time, a vehicle began to make a right turn (passing through the marked intersection). One person pulled the other person back to the curb. Although it is not clear from the video, it appears that the vehicle may have nearly collided with the pedestrian had he or she not be pulled back to the curb. Despite the pedestrian having the right of way in this case, it is easy to understand why the driver continued with the right turn. Prior to the pedestrians attempting to cross the roadway, they stood on the curb facing the opposite crossing direction (i.e., facing north, rather than east). Furthermore, the walk phase had been initiated for more than 10 s prior to the pedestrians attempting to enter the marked intersection. These clues could easily lead a driver not to interpret the pedestrians as a potential hazard. Therefore, it does appear that predictability of pedestrian actions plays a key in driver reaction and potential safety.

In sum, these data help to explain where, when, and why pedestrians cross the road. Through this report, the data and analysis help to promote a better understanding of pedestrian behavior. This information can be used to evaluate the implementation of new roadways and communities, redesign of existing environments, and identification of areas that may benefit from engineering interventions such as crossing-inhibiting designs or pedestrian hybrid beacons.