Citation

Jones MH. Transp. Res. Rec. 1980; 743: 1-4.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1980, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The lack of criterion measure of pedestrian performance may, in part, account for the relative neglect of pedestrian safety. The measure developed here is based on observation of pedestrian behavior in normal traffic. Observation is limited to a small number of behaviors that are critical for accident causation in order to reduce the information load on observers. Unambiguous coding rules and intensive training of observers resulted in achievement of very high intercoder reliabilities. The technique was used successfully in an evaluation of a pedestrian safety curriculum for primary grades. At intersections, the behaviors of some 1500 children were coded, and about 750 were coded at midblock crossings. The remarkable finding was the prevalence of dangerous behavior patterns in the school trip, where the probability of an accident is low. Although the measurement technique was developed while observing child pedestrians, it is equally applicable to adults.