Pedestrian Behavior at Signalized Pedestrian Crossings

Abstract

The objective of this research was to define eventual differences in models of pedestrian behavior at signalized pedestrian crossings, with and without countdown displays. The outcomes of this work represent a contribution to the harmonization of positions on the effect of a countdown display on pedestrian behavior. Video recordings at two completely similar pedestrian crossings enabled the collection of pedestrian behavior data (crossing at the red light), which included different categories (gender, age, individual/group, and "slow" pedestrians), collected in different conditions (during certain red light intervals and traffic volume). The results of the research showed that a statistically significant larger number of pedestrian offenders occurred at pedestrian crossings without countdown displays rather than at crossings with countdown displays. The presence of a countdown display significantly reduced the number of women offenders in particular. The number of offenders in the first and last four seconds of the pedestrian red light at the pedestrian crossing with a countdown display, differed, in terms of statistical significance, from the number of offenders at the crossing without a countdown display. The countdown display had a positive influence on pedestrians older than 40 years of age, as well as on slow pedestrians.