Using a Virtual Environment to Study Pedestrian Behaviors: How Does Time Pressure Affect Children's and Adults' Street Crossing Behaviors?

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine how crossing under time pressure influences the pedestrian behaviors of children and adults. Methods: Using a highly immersive virtual reality system interfaced with a 3D movement measurement system, various indices of children's and adults' crossing behaviors were measured under time-pressure and no time-pressure conditions. Results: Pedestrians engaged in riskier crossing behaviors on time-pressure trials as indicated by appraising traffic for a shorter period before initiating their crossing, selecting shorter more hazardous temporal gaps to cross into, and having the car come closer to them (less time to spare). There were no age or sex differences in how time pressure affected crossing behaviors. Conclusions: The current findings indicate that, at all ages, pedestrians experience greater exposure to traffic dangers when they cross under time pressure.