Documenting Targeted Behaviors Associated with Pedestrian Safety

The purpose of this study was to provide an exploratory analysis of the proportion of pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers exhibiting four specific behaviors at 12 intersections near transit stations in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. Those target behaviors were (a) pedestrians crossing a roadway while using a mobile device, such as a cell phone; (b) pedestrians crossing a signalized intersection against a red light; (c) bicyclists running a red light at a signalized intersection; and (d) automobiles turning right on red without stopping. Those four behaviors are important because they may lead to pedestrian crashes. Overall, 8% of pedestrians used mobile devices while crossing, but the proportion ranged from less than 3% to more than 18% at specific study sites. At some locations, fewer than 3% of nonmotorized road users violated red lights, whereas approximately 70% did at other sites. The percentage of motorists turning right on red without stopping ranged from zero to more than 70%. Female pedestrians were more likely than were males to talk on mobile devices while crossing a street, but males were more likely to violate traffic signals while walking or bicycling. However, these observations did not control for differences in gender and other characteristics at sites. As pedestrian and bicycle mode shares increase, it will be essential for all users to understand their rights and responsibilities in the environment of the roadway. The documentation of behaviors helps provide a foundation for engineering, education, enforcement, and encouragement countermeasures that will improve safety for pedestrians and other roadway users.