Crossing Roads Safely: Influence of Various Vehicle Types in Gap Selection by Pedestrians

This paper analyzed the relationship between the gap selection and the types of oncoming vehicle in the process of pedestrians crossing the road. The oncoming vehicles were divided into large and small vehicle; six groups of pedestrians were recorded, young-male, mid-aged-male, old-male, young-female, mid-aged-female and old-female. The accepted gaps were recorded and analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis. The results showed that, oncoming vehicles type had significant impact upon gap selection of pedestrians. A large oncoming vehicle had a shorter selected gap than a small oncoming vehicle. It is concluded that pedestrians have a smaller perceived velocity and overestimate the gap, large oncoming vehicle arrive conflict point. However, the overestimated gap was likely not safe to crossing the road. So, at no signal control intersection, a strict speed limit was necessary for large vehicle.