Documenting Targeted Behaviors Associated with Pedestrian Safety

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide an exploratory analysis of the proportion of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers exhibiting four specific behaviors at 12 intersections near transit stations in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Those target behaviors were (a) pedestrians crossing a roadway while using a mobile device, such as a cell phone; (b) pedestrians crossing a signalized intersection against a red light; (c) bicyclists running a red light at a signalized intersection; and (d) automobiles turning right on red without stopping. Those four behaviors are important because they may lead to pedestrian crashes. Overall, 8% of pedestrians used mobile devices while crossing, but the proportion ranged from less than 3% to more than 18% at specific study sites. At some locations, fewer than 3% of nonmotorized road users violated red lights, whereas approximately 70% did at other sites. The percentage of motorists turning right on red without stopping ranged from zero to more than 70%. Female pedestrians were more likely than were males to talk on mobile devices while crossing a street, but males were more likely to violate traffic signals while walking or bicycling. However, these observations did not control for differences in gender and other characteristics at sites. As pedestrian and bicycle mode shares increase, it will be essential for all users to understand their rights and responsibilities in the environment of the roadway. The documentation of behaviors helps provide a foundation for engineering, education, enforcement, and encouragement countermeasures that will improve safety for pedestrians and other roadway users.

Technology-related distracted walking behaviours in Manhattan's most dangerous intersections

“…The observed rates of distracted walking are consistent with those reported by others 10 11. The high prevalence of these behaviours may pose emerging injury risks in urban areas as mobile technology increases in popularity1 2 and increasing proportions of the US14 15 and global16 population migrate to urban areas.…”

“…An Australian study revealed that male pedestrians talking on a mobile phone crossed more slowly than matched controls at ‘unsignalised’ crosswalks, and that females using phones not only crossed streets more slowly but were also less likely to look for traffic before or while crossing 9. A study of pedestrian behaviour at 12 intersections in San Francisco found that up to 18% of pedestrians were using a mobile device when crossing the street 10. In another recent study in Seattle that included observations of over 1100 pedestrians crossing at 20 high-risk intersections, almost 30% engaged in at least one distracting behaviour, including text messaging, listening to music or talking on a phone 11.…”

Development of Low-Cost Methodology for Evaluating Pedestrian Safety in Support of Complete Streets Policy Implementation

“…A variety of models and methods for evaluating pedestrian traffic conflicts and predicting collisions have been published (4)(5)(6). Similarly, considerable research exists on the evaluation of the built environment for pedestrian safety and comfort, in particular on the relationship between infrastructure improvements and pedestrian behaviors (7)(8)(9). Although the efficacy of enforcement programs aimed at improving pedestrian behavior has been demonstrated (8,9), researchers have found that in many cases design interventions are an essential prerequisite to changing unsafe user behaviors (7,8).…”

“…Similarly, considerable research exists on the evaluation of the built environment for pedestrian safety and comfort, in particular on the relationship between infrastructure improvements and pedestrian behaviors (7)(8)(9). Although the efficacy of enforcement programs aimed at improving pedestrian behavior has been demonstrated (8,9), researchers have found that in many cases design interventions are an essential prerequisite to changing unsafe user behaviors (7,8). Because specific countermeasures that improve pedestrian safety outcomes are well outlined in the literature, they were discussed minimally in this research, although the finding that infrastructure improvement should be prioritized was an underlying assumption of the study.…”

Effect of Electronic Device Use on Pedestrian Safety: A Literature Review1

“…This section discusses the literature available on pedestrian-vehicle interactions. Cooper and Schneider (2012) examined the frequency of specific behaviors at intersections near transit facilities in the Bay Area of San Francisco. The target behaviors were: (a) pedestrians crossing the roadway while using a mobile device, such as a cell phone, (b) pedestrians crossing a signalized intersection against a red light, (c) bicyclists running a red light at a signalized intersection, and (d) motorists turning right on red without stopping.…”