Feasibility Study of Drivers Yielding Behavior to the Pedestrians at Unsignalized Crossing
Background and Objectives
The maintenance of traffic signals has been identified as an issue for sustainable traffic management, and the operation of pedestrian crossings without traffic signals may increase. However, it has been pointed out that the percentage of drivers who stop at unsignalized pedestrian crossings is low, and countermeasures are required to address this issue. In foreign countries, efforts are underway to improve the convenience of pedestrian crossings by installing Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, which alert drivers with flashing lights, as a facility measure at pedestrian crossings. Therefore, this study examined the installation methods of unsignalized pedestrian crosswalks in foreign countries and the measures taken to encourage vehicles to stop at unsignalized crosswalks. Thereafter, we will conduct an experiment to install a flashlight-type alert facility at unsignalized pedestrian crosswalks in Japan and study the feasibility of introducing such a facility.
Expected Results
As we enter a society with a declining and aging population, each prefectural police headquarters is currently studying "how to develop sustainable traffic safety facilities." In this project, we will maintain and manage traffic safety facilities in a way that is different from traffic signals as in the past. The concept of maintaining and managing traffic safety facilities in a way that differs from conventional traffic signals is needed. In particular, new efforts are being made to ensure pedestrian safety by focusing on pedestrian crossings. The introduction of new crossing facilities other than traffic signals has been studied in Japan and abroad. In Japan, however, crossing facilities using flashing lights and electric signs are still in the trial stage, and the specific benefits of such facilities have not been clarified. Therefore, this research project aims to gain knowledge for ensuring the safety and smoothness of unsignalized pedestrian crossings in Japan by understanding the effects of the introduction of flashlight-type alerting facilities introduced in foreign countries on drivers and pedestrians. Based on the findings obtained here, we will then propose the future of auxiliary facilities for the operation of pedestrian crossing facilities that do not depend on traffic signals to contribute to the improvement of safety in the transportation society.