Pedestrian-Driver Communication at Crosswalks without Signals :

Driver Yielding Gesture Effects on Pedestrian Decisions for Road Crossing

Abstract

Pedestrians have insufficient opportunities and safety when crossing a road at a crosswalk without signals because many drivers do not yield the right of way to them.　This study specifically examined pedestrian-driver communications to resolve that difficulty.　An on-site interview survey with pedestrians was conducted with two field experiments to ascertain the actual conditions of pedestrian-driver communications at crosswalks without signals and to assess effects of driver hand gestures on pedestrian behavior.　Interview survey results revealed that the aim of pedestrian signs to drivers were not so much to get a driver to yield as to express their gratitude for the driver’s yield.　Pedestrians used driver signs given to them as important information for the decision to begin crossing.　Field experiment results suggest that if drivers make a hand gesture to promote crossing by pedestrians, pedestrians can make a decision to begin crossing more quickly, reducing the time lost by both pedestrians and drivers.　Driver motivation to yield to pedestrians and to improve pedestrian opportunities and safety when crossing roads at crosswalks without signals might be raised by facilitating pedestrian-driver communications using gestures.