Illegal pedestrian crossing at signalised intersections: Incidence and relative risk

Abstract

Illegal pedestrian behaviour is common and is reported as a factor in many pedestrian crashes. Since walking is being promoted for its health and environmental benefits, minimisation of its associated risks is of interest. The risk associated with illegal road crossing is unclear, and better information would assist in setting a rationale for enforcement and priorities for public education. An observation survey of pedestrian behaviour was conducted at signalised intersections in the Brisbane CBD (Queensland, Australia) on typical workdays, using behavioural categories that were identifiable in police crash reports. The survey confirmed high levels of crossing against the lights, or close enough to the lights that they should legally have been used. Measures of exposure for crossing legally, against the lights, and close to the lights were generated by weighting the observation data. Relative risk ratios were calculated for these categories using crash data from the observation sites and adjacent midblocks. Crossing against the lights and crossing close to the lights both exhibited a crash risk per crossing event approximately eight times that of legal crossing at signalised intersections. The implications of these results for enforcement and education are discussed, along with the limitations of the study.

Pedestrian Crossing Environments in an Emerging Chinese City: Vehicle Encountering, Seamless Walking, and Sensory Perception Perspectives

“…While pedestrians seem to be unaware of the increased risk associated with non-compliance, King et al (2009) found that it, in fact, increased their risk eight times. Illegal pedestrian behaviour has been shown to be the main cause of pedestrian crashes, but still non-compliance rate has continued to increase [3,5]. Harrel's study [33] also concluded that pedestrians' level of cautiousness is significantly influenced by the volume of traffic, which he attributed to the diffusion of responsibility.…”

“…However, certain operational-level design such as the long waiting time (red traffic signal phase) encourages risk-taking and illegal behaviour among pedestrians at crossings [4]. A survey conducted along Brisbane's street intersections confirmed that a high percentage of pedestrians exhibited illegal behaviour, such as 'crossing against the lights' and 'close to the lights' [3]. While pedestrians seem to be unaware of the increased risk associated with non-compliance, King et al (2009) found that it, in fact, increased their risk eight times.…”

“…A survey conducted along Brisbane's street intersections confirmed that a high percentage of pedestrians exhibited illegal behaviour, such as 'crossing against the lights' and 'close to the lights' [3]. While pedestrians seem to be unaware of the increased risk associated with non-compliance, King et al (2009) found that it, in fact, increased their risk eight times. Illegal pedestrian behaviour has been shown to be the main cause of pedestrian crashes, but still non-compliance rate has continued to increase [3,5].…”

“…This has been the major focus of a number of pedestrian studies. For example, studies dealing with pedestrian safety, in both signalised and un-signalised intersections, have been carried out by Muraleetharan et al [21], King et al [3] and Guo et al [22]; pedestrian risk-taking behaviour [4,23,24], such as drunk pedestrians [25], distracted walking [26], illegal pedestrian crossing behaviour [3,26], across different age groups, such as child pedestrians [27] and college students [26]; modelling pedestrian behaviour [28]; and pedestrian safety factors [5]. However, traffic signals are effective only when traffic rules are enforced as intended.…”

Analysis of Pedestrian Gap Acceptance and Crossing Decision in Kuala Lumpur

“…Based on the gap acceptance theory researchers have developed mathematical models to represent the gap acceptance behavior of pedestrian with the help of pedestrian demographic characteristics such as gender and age [5], types of vehicle and waiting time [6], effect of rolling gap [7], effect of parked vehicles [8], non-compliant road crossing behavior at midblock locations [9], [10] and non-compliant road crossing behavior at signalized intersection [11].…”