Road crossing behavior under traffic light conflict: Modulating effects of green light duration and signal congruency

A large number of pedestrians and cyclists regularly ignore the traffic lights to cross the road illegally. In a recent analysis, illegal road crossing behavior has been shown to be enhanced in the presence of incongruent stimulus configurations. Pedestrians and cyclists are more likely to cross against a red light when exposed to an irrelevant conflicting green light. Here, the authors present experimental and observational data on the factors moderating the risk associated with incongruent traffic lights. In an observational study, they demonstrated that the conflict-related increase in illegal crossing rates is reduced when pedestrian and cyclist green light periods are long. In a laboratory experiment, they manipulated the color of the irrelevant signals to expose participants to different degrees of incongruency. Results revealed that individuals’ performance gradually varied as a function of incongruency, suggesting that the negative impact of a conflicting green light can be reduced by slightly adjusting its color. The authors' findings highlight that the observation of real-world behavior at intersections and the experimental analysis of psychological processes under controlled laboratory conditions can complement each other in identifying risk factors of risky road crossing behavior. Based on this combination, their study elaborates on promising measures to improve safety at signalized intersections.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aap.2016.07.023
• Record URL:
  • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001457516302524
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Lange, Florian
  • Haiduk, Michael
  • Boos, Moritz
  • Tinschert, Peter
  • Schwarze, Anke
  • Eggert, Frank
• Publication Date: 2016-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 292-298
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 95, Part A
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cyclists; Green interval; Pedestrian movement; Pedestrians; Traffic safety; Traffic signal timing; Traffic signals
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01612584
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 2016 4:32PM