Pedestrian safety in Belgium Do pedestrians comply with traffic - PDF document

Pedestrian safety in Belgium Do pedestrians comply with traffic lights in Belgian All road users cities? Pedestrians Kevin Diependaele # Fatalities 30 days Fatalaties 30 days % Pedestrians 1 Prototype of pedestrian accident in Belgium Research at signalized crossings Pedestrian hit by car Brussels (Populer 2014): ± 40% of ‣ ‣ accidents caused by violation of Urban area ‣ pedestrian = starts crossing at a red Crossing pedestrian ‣ light Pedestrian crossing without traffic ‣ lights ‣ Australia (King et al. 2009): Accident risks 8 eight times larger in case of red light violations Belgium (BIVV 2012): Belgians In-depth research (international): ‣ ‣ generally consider crossing at a red Often (> 50%) caused by light as very dangerous (72 th perc.) inappropriate looking behaviour by pedestrian … 2 3 Safer pedestrian traffic Safer pedestrian traffic: current study Influence of infrastructure Influence of traffic volume Prevalence red light violations Influence of other pedestrians Influence of time and weather 4 5

Observations Observations During exactly 15 minutes … During exactly 15 minutes … ‣ ‣ Number of pedestrians that starts crossing at and 6 7 Observations Observations During exactly 15 minutes … During exactly 15 minutes … ‣ ‣ Number of phases Number of Number of vehicles that vehicles that passes during passes during green green Number of pedestrians that starts Number of pedestrians that starts crossing at and crossing at and 8 9 Observations Observations 1320 x 15’ ‣ Antwerp 132 x 15’ ‣ Mons 132 x 15’ Bruges 132 x 15’ ‣ ‣ Brussels 2 x 132 x 15’ ‣ Charleroi 132 x 15’ Ghent 132 x 15’ ‣ ‣ Leuven 132 x 15’ Liège 132 x 15’ ‣ Namur 132 x 15’ ‣ 11

Observations 1320 x 15’ Multivariate generalized linear mixed model # Directions From 10/09/’14 to 20/09/’14 (mon - ‣ # Pedestrians # Lanes/direction sat) Tram/bus lane 9 cities ‣ Tram/bus station ‣ 8 intersections (BXL 16) # Pedestrians Push button ‣ 4 crossing Visual support – ± 4 x 15’ # Vehicles Auditory support Crossings with high frequency of ‣ Visible zebra marking pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic Time of the day # Phases Weather conditions 12 Results with 69211 observed pedestrians Results On the average pedestrian crossing per 15’ ‣ Influence of 10 phases infrastructure Influence of vehicles Prevalence red light violations ~ 21% 89 vehicles Influence of other pedestrians Influence of time 16.9 pedestrians at and 4.4 at and weather 14 15 Results Influence of traffic volume Influence of infrastructure % Red light violations # Pedestrians / 15’ Influence of traffic volume? Prevalence red light violations ~ 21% Influence of other pedestrians # vehicles / 15’ Influence of time and weather 16 17

Results Influence of other pedestrians Influence of # Red light violations / 15’ % Red light violations infrastructure Influence of vehicles Prevalence red light violations ~ 21% Influence of other pedestrians? # pedestrians / 15’ Influence of time and weather 18 19 Results Results Influence of infrastructure? Influence of vehicles Prevalence red light violations ~ 21% Influence of other pedestrians Influence of time and weather? 20 Results Conclusions ‣ On an average signalized pedestrians crossing in an urban area in Belgium, we observe that in 21% of the pedestrians start crossing at a red light. The prevalence of red light running varies greatly, given many significantly ‣ n.s. associated variables. Yes No Yes No n.s. Yes No Good Bad Yes No 23

Conclusions Safer pedestrian traffic Pedestrians do not cross arbitrarily; effects of traffic volumes, driving ‣ directions, number of lanes, tram/bus lanes and time of the day clearly indicate risk assessment. Irrespective of risk involved in individual actions, frequent violations are by ‣ definition problematic. 24 25 Safer pedestrian traffic kevin.diependaele@bivv.be 26 E (# Voetgangers) = 16,9 E (# Voetgangers) = 4,4 E (# Voertuigen) = 89 E (# Fases) = 10