Conditions that Influence Drivers' Behaviors at Roundabouts: Increasing Yielding for Pedestrians who are Visually Impaired. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bourquin, Eugene A.; Emerson, Robert Wall; Sauerburger, Dona; Barlow, Janet M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of visual impairment & blindness. Volume 112:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 71
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Blind -- Periodicals; People with visual disabilities -- Periodicals; Blindness -- Periodicals; Vision disorders -- Periodicals; Blind; Blindness; People with visual disabilities; Vision disorders; Blindness; Vision Disorders; Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.4105
• DOI: 10.1177/0145482X1811200106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-482X

Abstract

Introduction: This study examined the effects on drivers' yields of seven conditions (pedestrian behaviors) at a roundabout, measuring yielding behaviors. Methods: At a roundabout, drivers' yielding responses were recorded (none, soft, hard) when a pedestrian presented one of seven conditions: pedestrian without long cane, long cane display, hand up, reversible step (a single step forward into the street), head turn gaze, hand up plus gaze, and a reversible step plus gaze. Trials were completed at the crosswalks at the entrance and exit lanes. Results: At the entry and exit lanes, the hand up and reversible step conditions received significantly higher yield percentages than all other conditions. At the exit lanes, the reversible step condition received a significantly higher yield percentage than the hand up condition. There was no significant difference among the three head turn gaze conditions: hand up, hand up plus gaze, and reversible step plus gaze. The hand up and reversible step strategies averaged 83% yielding overall, compared with 20% yielding for the other strategies. Discussion: This study demonstrates that forced detectable yields may be generated when pedestrians have not entered the travel lanes of the street at a crosswalk or have only entered the very edge of the street. Gazing behaviors do not substantially influence drivers' yielding rates. Implications for practitioners: Using a hand up or reversible step can allow pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind to create circumstances to help determine if and when to initiate a crossing at a roundabout.