Does crossing the road in a group influence pedestrians’ gaze behavior?

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1938-1942
Author(s):  
Mirjam Lanzer ◽  
Martin Baumann
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Gender Influence ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users ◽  
Group Members ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Group Characteristics

So far, research on pedestrians’ gaze behavior while crossing roads has mainly focused on individual pedestrians rather than groups. However, pedestrians often travel in groups especially in downtown areas. This observational study investigated how group characteristics (group size and movement of the group), situational factors (presence of traffic), and demographic variables (age and gender) influence pedestrians’ gaze behavior towards traffic during road crossing. A total of N = 197 pedestrians were observed of whom n = 24 traveled alone, n = 128 traveled in groups of two or three, and n = 45 traveled in groups of four or more. Results indicated that with increasing group size, the odds to observe traffic decreased. Diffusion of responsibility among group members might explain this effect. Finally, pedestrians’ group characteristics should be considered when developing automated vehicles that interact with vulnerable road users.

scholarly journals Road Safety Analysis of Urban Roads: Case Study of an Italian Municipality

Safety ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Demasi ◽  
Giuseppe Loprencipe ◽  
Laura Moretti
Keyword(s):  
Road Safety ◽  
Hazard Index ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Analytical Methodology ◽  
The Road ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Homogeneous Section ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users

Attention to the most vulnerable road users has grown rapidly over recent decades. The experience gained reveals an important number of fatalities due to accidents in urban branch roads. In this study, an analytical methodology for the calculation of urban branch road safety is proposed. The proposal relies on data collected during road safety inspections; therefore, it can be implemented even when historical data about traffic volume or accidents are not available. It permits us to identify geometric, physical, functional, and transport-related defects, and elements which are causal factors of road accidents, in order to assess the risk of death or serious injuries for users. Traffic volume, average speed, and expected consequences on vulnerable road users in case of an accident allow us to calculate both the level of danger of each homogeneous section which composes the road, and the hazard index of the overall branch. A case study is presented to implement the proposed methodology. The strategy proposed by the authors could have a significant impact on the risk management of urban roads, and could be used in decision-making processes to design safer roads and improve the safety of existing roads.

scholarly journals Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Nenad Markovic ◽  
Dalibor Pešić ◽  
Mladen Kovač ◽  
Emir Smailović
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
The World ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Independent Assessment

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

scholarly journals Pedestrians’habits while crossing the road at a former zebra crossing

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-46
Author(s):  
M. Sucha
Keyword(s):  
Waiting Times ◽  
The Other ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
The Road ◽  
Cooperative Approach ◽  
Video Recordings ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users ◽  
New Situation

This paper presents research results focused on pedestrians’ crossing behaviour, the role of habit and routine route choice, pedestrians’ perceived safety and comfort, preferences, and waiting times. Data was collected and analysed using rapid on-site interviews with pedestrians, on-site observations and video recordings. The results indicate that vulnerable pedestrians choose different crossing strategies: waiting for a driver to give way to them rather than waiting for a safe gap to pass, and require a much more cooperative approach from drivers than other pedestrians. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that the removal of the crossings reduced pedestrians’ perceived safety and comfort, on the other hand, their awareness has been raised. While adult pedestrians can cope with the new situation relatively well and cross the road without major difficulties, the same does not apply to vulnerable road users.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Motorcyclists’ Gaze Behavior in Different Road Environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 288-296
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Lemonakis ◽  
Eleni Misokefalou ◽  
Nikolaos Eliou ◽  
Myrofora Koroni
Keyword(s):  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Time Data ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Special Equipment ◽  
Experimental Procedure ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Main Indicator ◽  
Driving Task

While car drivers consist the vast majority of road users, motorcycle drivers are considered among the most vulnerable ones with significant participation in accidents. The present study investigates the role of elements that permanently exist in the road environment and affect motorcyclist’s behavior since their usefulness requires visual contact between them and the rider during a certain period of time. Therefore, on such an occasion the riders do not monitor the road ahead which is considered as a fundamental driving task and hence the visual search and scan is not directed to the frontal view. The main objective of this paper is to identify and evaluate certain aspects of motorcyclists’ behavior influenced by exterior factors, such as observation of vertical signage or advertisement signs, by using naturalistic data. Motorcyclist’s visual behavior is evaluated via a continuous recording of his gaze, which acts as the main indicator regarding the rider’s performance, with the use of special equipment under naturalistic riding conditions. The selection of a naturalistic method permits continuous data recording, producing real-time data. Thus, the results are reliable and valid to the maximum possible extent. This research is based on a medium-scale experimental procedure that took place in three different road sections in Western Greece. A number of 11 motorcyclists participated in the study. The present research may be used as a tool to improve road infrastructure and to identify attitudes that pose a risk to rider’s safety aiming to the creation of a safer road environment, which will lead to less fatal and serious accidents.

scholarly journals Determination the influence of road factors on the occurrence of traffic accidents with dead pedestrians on the territory of Belgrade by independent estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 41-49
Author(s):  
Nenad Markovic ◽  
Dalibor Pešić ◽  
Mladen Kovač ◽  
Emir Smailović
Keyword(s):  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Traffic Accidents ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
The World ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Independent Assessment

The world is paying more and more attention to the safety of vulnerable road users, and especially the safety of pedestrians. The reason for that is the large representation of vulnerable participants in the total number of victims in traffic accidents. Belgrade stood out as especially unsafe for pedestrians, because their endangerment is higher than the world average, but also higher than in the rest of Serbia. In order to increase the safety of pedestrians, appropriate management measures are applied, which are, as a rule, based on the recognized influencing factors of the occurrence of these accidents. For that reason, it is extremely important to define the real influencing factors in the right way. One of the best tools for recognizing the impact of road factors is the independent assessment of the impact of the road on accidents, which the road manager, according to the Law, is obliged to conduct in the event of a traffic accident with fatalities. The paper analyzes 59 traffic accidents with dead pedestrians, which occurred in the period from 15.05.2019. to 06/02/2021 years on the territory of the city of Belgrade and for which an independent assessment of the impact of the road was conducted. The results indicate that the road factor had an impact on the occurrence of more than half of the traffic accidents with dead pedestrians. Also, the results indicate the existence of a number of different influencing factors, which indicates the need for further implementation of these analyzes. The paper presents characteristic examples of the most commonly identified influencing factors.

scholarly journals Pedestrians’ perceptions of automated vehicle movements and light-based eHMIs in real world conditions: A test track study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Horn ◽  
Ruth Madigan ◽  
Yee Mun Lee ◽  
Fabio Tango ◽  
Natasha Merat
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Test Track ◽  
Perceived Safety ◽  
Light Band ◽  
Automated Vehicle ◽  
The Road ◽  
Road Users ◽  
Human Machine Interfaces ◽  
Vulnerable Road Users ◽  
New Challenges

The development of increasingly automated vehicles (AVs) is likely to lead to new challenges around how they will interact with other road users. In the future, it is envisaged that AVs, manually driven vehicles, and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians will need to share the road environment and interact with one another. This paper presents a test track study, funded by the H2020 interACT project, investigating pedestrians’ reactions towards an AV’s movement patterns and external Human Machine Interfaces (eHMIs). Twenty participants, standing on the side of a test-track road and facing an approaching AV, were asked to raise their arm to indicate: (1) when they could perceive the AV’s eHMI, which consisted of either a Full Light Band (FLB) or a Partial Light Band (PLB); (2) when they perceived the deceleration of the AV (with eHMI vs. no eHMI); and (3) when they felt safe to cross the road in front of the approaching AV (with eHMI vs. no eHMI). Statistical analyses revealed no effects of the presence of an eHMI on the pedestrians’ crossing decision or deceleration perception, but significant differences were found regarding the visibility of the FLB and PLB designs. The PLB design could be perceived at further distances than the FLB design. Both eHMI solutions were generally well-received, and participants provided high ratings of acceptance, perceived safety, and confidence around the AV.

Effects of Group Characteristics on Social Space

1978 ◽  
Vol 47 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1307-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darhl M. Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
Group Size ◽  
Social Space ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
High Density ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Group Characteristics ◽  
Top View ◽  
Number Of Males

A representational task employing top-view profiles was used to measure the social space of subjects toward groups in which structural characteristics were systematically varied. Three separate experiments were conducted. Females displayed larger social space than males toward groups of three and toward all-male groups. Semicircular and rank groups produced similar social space, and it was larger than that for file groups. Increases in group size affected social space for the semicircular and rank formations but not for the file formation. Group space increased with the number of males in the group and their proximity to the approaches Larger social space for groups of low than of high density indicated that both number of group members and area they occupied influenced social space.

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