THE ELDERLY PEDESTRIAN: RESPONSE TO AN ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN

THE RESPONSES OF ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS TO AN EDUCATION AND ENFORCEMENT CAMPAIGN, DIRECTED TOWARD ELIMINATING JAYWALKING BEHAVIOR, WERE EXAMINED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE CAMPAIGN BY PHOTOGRAPHING AND ANALYZING STREET CROSSING BEHAVIOR AT TWO LOCATIONS. ONE LOCATION WAS IN THE TARGET AREA OF THE CAMPAIGN, THE OTHER WAS IN ANOTHER SUBURB IN THE SAME METROPOLITAN AREA. SAMPLES OF PEDESTRIANS AND TAXICAB DRIVERS WERE ALSO INTERVIEWED DURING THE PHASES OF THE STUDY. RESULTS SHOW THAT IN THE TARGET AREA THERE WAS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN LEGAL CROSSINGS DURING THE CAMPAIGN, BUT FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE CAMPAIGN THE PERCENTAGE OF LEGAL CROSSINGS WAS THE SAME AS BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN, UNLESS A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT ON THE CORNER. AFTER THE CAMPAIGN THE PERCENTAGE OF LEGAL CROSSINGS WAS 50% HIGHER WHEN A POLICEMAN WAS PRESENT THAN WHEN HE WAS NOT, BUT WAS STILL BELOW THE DURING-CAMPAIGN LEVEL. THE INTERVIEWS REVEALED THAT ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS ARE OFTEN CONFUSED ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROL AND BASE THEIR JUDGMENTS ON WHEN TO CROSS ON THE MOVEMENT OF AUTOMOBILES, RATHER THAN ON TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE INTERVIEWS ALSO INDICATED A FAVORABLE ATTITUDE OF THE PEDESTRIANS TOWARD ENFORCEMENT. /SRIS/

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 12, No 4, PP 100-110
  • Authors:
    • Wiener, E L
  • Publication Date: 1968-12

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00223170
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Nat Safety Council Safety Res Info Serv
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 1 1970 12:00AM