Walking and Jogging: An Analysis of Pedestrian Stopping Times and Distances

When faced with a potential hazard, a pedestrian may need to change course, stop, maintain speed or accelerate. Logically, this must involve both a delay phase (to perceive a hazard and formulate a response) and an action phase (e.g., to arrest forward momentum in a stopping response). Qualitatively, the decision and response processes are similar to those an individual faces while driving an automobile or riding a bicycle, but very little research has been found on this subject for pedestrians. In the current study, jogging or walking subjects were asked to stop quickly in response to an auditory signal, and data were extracted from video recordings of the trials. The reaction time phase observed in the study was similar to prepared reaction times in other settings. The halting phase visibly began with a change in body angle, with rapid deceleration following the subsequent heel strike. Both the time and the distance to stop required from a jog or walk can be important for analysis of vehicle-pedestrian collisions and other mishaps.