Investigations of driver’s speed at unsignalised pedestrian crossings

Abstract

Pedestrian crossings are critical places for road accidents involving pedestrians and motor vehicles. Due to the relation between speed and injury severe the driver’s speed has a crucial impact on pedestrian safety. In Poland the traffic-related death rate of unprotected road users is extremely high comparing to other countries of European Union even though the traffic law regulations require from drivers special attention and slowing down while approaching to the intersection and/or zebra pedestrian crossing area. The goal of the paper is to investigate driver’s speed while approaching to the pedestrian crossings located in mid-block areas and in inlet sections of unsignalised intersections and roundabouts. For this purpose the spot speed measurements in free flow traffic conditions were conducted using radar speed gun. Speed was recorded at a distance of 100m and 50m from the crossing as well as at the zebra crossing location. As a result driver’s speed behaviour based on statistical analysis and depending on the type, localization and distance from the pedestrian crossing was analysed and evaluated.