Factors affecting pedestrian behaviors at signalized crosswalks: An empirical study. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bendak, Salaheddine; Alnaqbi, Asayel M.; Alzarooni, Muna Y.; Aljanaahi, Sara M.; Alsuwaidi, Shaikha J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of safety research. Volume 76(2021)
• Page Start: 269
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Pedestrian behavior -- Road safety -- Crosswalks -- Pedestrian crashes -- Health Belief Model; Industrial safety -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Accidents, Occupational -- Periodicals; Sécurité du travail -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prévention -- Périodiques; Accidents -- Prevention; Industrial safety; Periodicals; 363.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsr.2020.12.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4375

Abstract

Highlights: Safety of pedestrians at signalized crossings depends on their behaviors. 25 crossing behaviors and factors were analyzed for 708 pedestrians in Sharjah. Female pedestrians are less likely to cross on red pedestrian lights than males. Longer red times and narrower roads encourage pedestrians to cross on red lights. Majority of pedestrians do not look around before crossing. Abstract: Introduction: Safety of pedestrians depends, among other factors, on their behavior while crossing the road. This study aims to assess behaviors of pedestrians at signalized crosswalks. Method: Following a literature review and a pilot study, 25 vital pedestrian crossing factors and behaviors were determined. Then data was randomly collected for 708 pedestrians at 10 lighted crossings in Sharjah (UAE), five at road intersections and five mid-block crossings. Results: Results indicated that 17.4% of pedestrians observed crossed partly or fully on red and that crossing speed was 1.22 m/s, on the average, which is slightly faster than most speeds recorded in the literature. Moreover, female pedestrians were more likely to cross while chatting with others, less likely to cross on red, and more likely to walk slower than male pedestrians. Results also showed that pedestrians who crossed at road intersections walked slower than those who crossed at mid-block crossings. It was also found that longer red pedestrian times and narrower roads tended to encourage pedestrians to cross on red and that the majority of pedestrians did not look around before crossing. Practical implications : Use of the Health Belief Model for pedestrian safety are discussed.