Introducing experiment in pedestrian behaviour and risk perception study at urban level crossing

Area of Science:

• Transportation Safety
• Human Behavior Analysis
• Traffic Engineering

Background:

• Level crossings (LCs) pose significant risks for severe accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
• Understanding the factors contributing to risky behavior at LCs is crucial for developing effective safety interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine legal and illegal crossing behaviors of pedestrians and cyclists at a high-traffic LC.
• To identify safety measures that can effectively reduce risky behaviors at LCs.
• To analyze the impact of police presence, cameras, and educational campaigns on user behavior.

Main Methods:

• Utilized survey data and field observations to collect information on user behavior.
• Observed behavior under normal conditions and with implemented safety measures.
• Employed video surveillance for detailed analysis of crossing patterns.

Main Results:

• Police presence at the LC was the most effective measure in reducing illegal crossings.
• Cameras significantly contributed to reducing illegal crossings, especially after a safety educational campaign.
• Illegal crossing decreased by 59.23% following the educational campaign and camera implementation.

Conclusions:

• Implementing cameras at LCs and conducting frequent educational campaigns can improve human behavior.
• The study highlights the effectiveness of a combined approach involving surveillance and education.
• This research pioneers the use of field surveys and video surveillance for analyzing LC user behavior in Croatia.