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Investigation of signing to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles at signalized intersections
Abstract
Turning movements are a major safety problem for pedestrians crossing at intersections, especially at signalized intersections. Previous studies of pedestrian safety have found that pedestrian accident rates caused by left turns were higher than those caused by right-turn or through movements. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the "Turning traffic must yield to pedestrians" sign. The results indicated that the sign was effective in reducing conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles. Drivers' response to pedestrian group size was found to be the same at left- and right-turn locations. The relationship between the percentage decrease in the percentage of conflicts and the pedestrian group size showed a positive correlation, indicating that the larger the size of a pedestrian group at a crosswalk, the greater the chances of a driver yielding the right-of-way to pedestrians. The obstruction to the field of vision caused by the front-left roof-support (A-pillar) during a left-turn maneuver was found to have the potential to cover a substantial portion of the crosswalk creating a blind zone, especially during a left-turn maneuver from a two-way street. The front-right roof-support (B-pillar) was found to have no vision obstruction effect during a right-turn maneuver. Three surveys of driver and pedestrians were conducted to determine their understanding of pertinent laws and traffic control devices. The results indicated that drivers were less likely to know that they must yield to pedestrians when making a left turn. Also, drivers over 75 years of age were found to be significantly less knowledgeable than other age groups about the need to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when making left or right turns at signalized intersections. Pedestrians' knowledge of pedestrian signal indications was also evaluated. The results of the survey indicated that pedestrians over 75 years of age were not as aware as younger pedestrians of the potential conflicts with turning vehicles during the Walk indication. Also, pedestrians' age and knowledge in regard to the flashing Dont Walk clearance indication were found to be inversely related to each other, with older pedestrians having less understanding of the indication than younger pedestrians.
Subject Area
Civil engineering|Transportation
Recommended Citation
Al-Kaisy, Husham Nazhat Abdulsattar, "Investigation of signing to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and turning vehicles at signalized intersections" (1994). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9425270.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9425270