A STUDY ON THE CONFIRMATION BEHAVIOR OF CROSSING PEDESTRIANS TO THE APPROACHING RIGHT/LEFT TURNING VEHICLE WHILE CROSSING THE CROSSWALK

Abstract

Word count: 7,326 words (4,576 words for text and 2,750 words for 1 table and 10 figures) ABSTRACT In this study head-turning behavior is analyzed to understand where is the best location for the pedestrian to confirm the approaching vehicle in crossing the crosswalk. From the result of the head-turning frequency, it is found that head-turning frequency is increasing towards the entry of the crosswalk and the conflict point. Moreover, results by the analysis of different attributes, head-turning frequency at nighttime or of the elderly person tends to be low; and head-turning was performed more at the conflict point. These results might show that there is a need to provide the information about approaching vehicle. In the pattern that vehicle approaches behind the research participants, head-turning frequency is low; and this imply the need of information for the pedestrians. By the result of the comparison with the different experiment settings, it is found that the position where pedestrian just enter the crosswalk is the best location to confirm the approaching vehicle in the 3 kinds of cases, such as elderly person (having difficulty in crossing), nighttime (restricted visibility), wearing headphones (restricted hearing sense). Moreover, many head-turning behavior were performed at the middle of crosswalk in the case that start position of research participant is R and right-turning vehicle is approaching, and this could be an appropriate confirming action. From the result described above, there exist many important locations for the crossing pedestrian to confirm the approaching vehicle in a safe manner.