Simulator Study of Driver Responses to Pedestrian Treatments at Multilane Roundabouts

Area of Science:

• Traffic Engineering
• Human Factors in Transportation
• Pedestrian Safety

Background:

• Multilane roundabouts present significant accessibility challenges for pedestrians with vision impairments.
• Driver yielding behavior, particularly at roundabout exit legs, is a critical safety concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of different treatments in increasing driver yielding rates for pedestrians at roundabout exit legs.
• To assess the impact of crosswalk relocation and pedestrian beacons on driver yielding behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a driving simulator to assess driver yielding rates.
• Evaluated three treatments: stop bar/crosswalk relocation, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB), and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB).
• Employed eye-tracking technology to analyze driver gaze patterns.

Main Results:

• Both PHB and RRFB significantly increased driver yielding rates, with or without crosswalk relocation.
• Crosswalk relocation alone did not significantly improve yielding but enhanced beacon effectiveness.
• Eye-tracking revealed increased driver attention to beacons and pedestrians when treatments were installed.

Conclusions:

• Pedestrian beacons (PHB and RRFB) are effective in improving driver yielding at roundabout exits.
• Combining beacons with crosswalk relocation further enhances safety.
• Visibility and driver reaction to pedestrian treatments remain areas for further investigation.