The impact of waiting time and other factors on dangerous pedestrian crossings and violations at signalized intersections: A case study in Montreal

Pedestrian violations of traffic signals and dangerous crossings at intersections are common. The objective of this study is to determine the impact of pedestrian waiting time at an intersection on the proportion and type of pedestrian violations and dangerous crossings. The amount of waiting depends on signal phasing, time of arrival, and the presence of a pedestrian signal. Thirteen intersections with similar geometry and traffic conditions but different maximum waiting times, seven of which had a pedestrian signal, were observed over at least 2 h to collect crossing information. Data was collected manually for the main analysis and complementary video data was used for validation. Several factors were identified as having an impact on the proportion of pedestrian violations. In accordance with the literature, age, sex, group size, pedestrian flow and pedestrian signals are associated to pedestrian violations. In addition, other factors were identified in this research, such as maximum waiting time (red phase). It was also determined that an intersection clearing time had an impact on violations and on the proportion of dangerous crossings committed. Also, pedestrians' speeds depended on the type of crossing. The results underline the importance of providing pedestrian signals including countdown displays, which is significantly and negatively linked to dangerous violations and crossings. The results also highlight the importance of pedestrian maximum waiting time as well as clearing time. When designing cycle and phase lengths, particular attention should be paid to pedestrian waiting times that are positively correlated to violations. Minimizing waiting times for pedestrians is expected to reduce dangerous pedestrian behaviors at signalized intersections. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.