THE EFFECT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS ON PEDESTRIANS' RISK TAKING

SAAN VAIKUTUS JALANKULKIJOIDEN RISKINOTTOON

The behaviour of pedestrians crossing a street, and the effects of weather conditions on the pedestrians' risk taking were studied on pedestrian crossings on heavily trafficked streets. The study material contained over 2000 pedestrians on four pedestrian crossings in the central areas of the city of Helsinki. Half of the observations were gathered in good weather conditions, and half at the same hours, but in rain. In addition pedestrians were interviewed in the vicinity of the studied crossings in order to study the effects of weather conditions on travel habits. Accepted gaps in the vehicle flow and safety margins were used as indicators of risk taking. Pedestrians seem to take higher risks in rain than in good weather conditions. In rain the pedestrians accepted on average 0.4 seconds or 8% shorter gaps than in good weather conditions. Pedestrians with no rain gear accepted shorter gaps than pedestrians with umbrellas. Significant differences in risk taking were also observed between the various pedestrian crossings. These differences were interpreted as caused by the road and traffic environment. The pedestrians seemed to accept higher risks on a narrow crossing, and when the vehicle speeds were low. The pedestrians do not take unnecessary risks when the lowness of traffic density ensures only short waiting time. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9519151206
• Corporate Authors:

  Central Organization for Traffic Safety, Finland

  Sitratie 7
  FIN-00420 Helsinki,   Finland 
• Authors:
  • KULMALA, R
  • SALUSJARVI, M
• Publication Date: 1987

Language

• Finnish

Media Info

• Pagination: 5 p.
• Serial:
  • Publication of: Central Organization for Traffic Safety, Finland
  • Issue Number: 87
  • Publisher: Central Organization for Traffic Safety, Finland
  • ISSN: 0355-6654

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Before and after studies; Hazards; Human characteristics; Pedestrians; Risk assessment; Weather
• Old TRIS Terms: Pedestrian characteristics; Stressing cables
• ITRD Terms: 1667: Crossing the road; 2248: Decision process; 1733: Pedestrian; 2507: Rain; 2259: Risk taking; 755: Traffic; 313: Urban area; 2545: Weather
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00470371
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
• ISBN: 951-9151-20-6
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 1988 12:00AM