Factors influencing traffic conflict severity in shared spaces

While shared spaces offer many benefits for pedestrians, traffic conflicts between pedestrians and other road users are common and often lead to crashes. However, little is known about the factors influencing the safety of pedestrians in shared spaces. This paper aims to examine how pedestrian-vehicle (both four and two wheelers) conflicts are influenced by factors related to pedestrians' crossing behaviour, environmental conditions, and traffic characteristics. Through collecting real-world observational data using roadside video cameras, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts were measured in shared spaces in Victoria, Australia. The results from a series of generalised linear regression models showed that the severity of conflicts reduces when a vehicle yields to let pedestrians cross, the conflicting vehicle is a 4-wheeler, and there is an increase in the number of pedestrians near a pedestrian who is crossing a shared zone. Conversely, increased conflict severity was observed on weekdays than weekends, and during the AM peak hours than other times. Higher severity was also observed for conflicts involving pedestrians crossing between parked vehicles and when there is an increase in the proportion of stationary pedestrians near the kerbs. These new results on the factors influencing conflict severity and the probability distribution of these factors will be helpful in planning and designing safer shared spaces.