Characteristics of Dangerous Scenarios between Vehicles Turning Right and Pedestrians under Left-Hand Traffic

Abstract

Pedestrian deaths account for the highest percentage of fatality caused by traffic accidents in Japan. Increasing pedestrian safety is a key objective for reducing such deaths. For pedestrian fatality caused by vehicles at low speed, turning the vehicle toward the right was the most common behavior under left-hand traffic. Autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems for pedestrian safety have great potential to mitigate pedestrian injuries and fatalities in traffic accidents. However, pedestrian-AEB systems, especially for vehicles turning right, are still under development. This study identified the characteristics of dangerous traffic scenarios between vehicles turning right and pedestrians, focusing on two directions of pedestrian crossing: from the left to the right side (Left-Pedestrian) and from the right to the left side (Right-Pedestrian). The ego vehicle recorded near-miss incidents using a drive recorder. The results revealed that the Left-Pedestrian and Right-Pedestrian scenarios had different features for both the width of roads going to and through the intersection and the average of the travel speeds of the ego vehicles. They had similar characteristics in terms of the presence of other vehicle categories, but differences in the relationship of numbers and/or travel directions of other vehicles. The findings of this study will contribute to the development and evaluation of safety systems for preventing collisions between right-turning vehicles and pedestrians at intersections.