Perceptions of Multimodal Traffic Safety Concerns in a University Population

Travelers may have different perceptions of the risks of using various modes and concerns about traffic safety, which may affect their transportation choices and risk-taking behaviors as well as the overall safety performance of multimodal transportation systems. The objective of this study was to examine perceptions and concerns over traffic safety among a multimodal group of travelers. The analysis used data from an online questionnaire survey completed by over 2,000 students and employees at a public university. Four latent variables—concerns about pedestrians and cyclists, auto drivers, modal interactions, and roadway conditions—were developed using factor analysis from 16 questions about traffic safety concerns. These four types of concerns were then analyzed for potential influences of the choice of travel modes, commute behavior, and socio-demographics using a structural equation model. Results showed that perceived safety varies systematically among different mode users and demographic groups. Auto drivers perceived interactions with pedestrians and cyclists as concerning, while non-auto users felt more concerned by automobile traffic. Women and non-white road users perceived risk at a higher level. Findings about perceptions of traffic safety concerns provide insights into designs, plans, and policies for making a safer multimodal transportation system for all road users.

• Record URL:
  • https://annualmeeting.mytrb.org/OnlineProgram/Details/15835
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ACH30 Standing Committee on Human Factors of Vehicles.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Rahman, Md Rafiur
  • Poudel, Niranjan
  • Singleton, Patrick A
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2021-1-5 to 2021-1-29
• Date: 2021

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Highway safety; Multimodal transportation; Perception; Risk assessment; Risk taking; Structural equation modeling; Traffic safety; Universities and colleges
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01764206
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-21-03244
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 4 2021 11:00AM