Corrado Chessa
Analysis of the Driver and Pedestrian Behavior Next to Crosswalks
PINNA, FRANCESCO;PIRAS, CLAUDIA
2010-01-01
Abstract
Pedestrians are vulnerable road user. In this research we present a study about the relationship between drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks in Italy. The pedestrians have a lot of difficulties in crossing as most of the drivers don’t care for the waiting pedestrians. Pedestrians are mainly exposed to the risk of traffic accident when crossing a street in urban areas.. The crosswalks are the sites where the pedestrians leave the sidewalk and enter the roadway. In this case the path of the pedestrian crosses one of the cars. The pedestrian crosses safely if there are not cars or the driver detect him with sufficient time to stop his car. Often the drivers do not stop even if they detect the pedestrian next to crosswalk. A lot of drivers go at high speed also next to pedestrian crossing. This driver behaviour is very dangerous for vulnerable road users. The target of this paper is to analysis the driver and pedestrian behaviour next to crosswalk. In order to verify the driver and pedestrian behaviour a television camera and two speed detectors were used. The television camera permitted to collected pedestrian characteristics, environmental characteristics, flow characteristics, while the two speed detectors allowed to collect vehicle speed in two sections (one of them was located several meters from crosswalk section, the other was located next to crosswalk section). A radar instrument was used to reveal the instant speed of the vehicles. We want to evidence that this type of instrument was also chosen for its characteristic of being easy to hide from the drivers view and to install on a vertical mobile support at any site. In addition, the shape of the instrument is such that even if seen by the driver, it is not recognized as a survey or radar instrument. In this way it is possible do not influence driver behaviour. The method to collect pedestrian characteristics and speeds in the different conditions is described. The video capture and analysis procedure, which is used to study pedestrian and driver behaviour next to crosswalk is detailed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.