Psychological influences on drivers’ yielding behavior at the crosswalk of intersections

Abstract

Pedestrian safety is vital, especially when it comes to crossing at intersections. Setting pedestrian safety facilities is one of the solutions to provide a safer environment for pedestrians to cross at intersections. And most studies have focused on the influence of pedestrian safety facilities on drivers’ yielding behavior. Meanwhile, psychological factors underlying drivers’ decisions to yield to pedestrians have received little attention. The current study explored the relationship between drivers’ yielding behavior and psychological factors using a questionnaire mainly designed based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). Measures of the questionnaire included elements of the theory of planned behavior model, risk perception part, new countermeasure, and traditional countermeasure. Pearson correlation test revealed that young drivers or highly educated drivers were more likely not to yield to pedestrians. Factors analysis proved the extended TPB questionnaire to be valid and reliable. Structural equation modeling showed that attitude (0.23), subjective norm (0.58), perceived behavioral control (0.21), and risk perception (0.38) significantly and directly influenced drivers’ yielding intentions. Traditional countermeasure (0.66) and new countermeasure (0.44) significantly influenced drivers’ risk perception and then influenced drivers’ yielding intentions indirectly. According to these findings, promotion and education on yielding behavior and on the functions of pedestrian safety facility were proposed.

Appendix A: The entire questionnaire in the research

1.1 Part 1: Demographic measures

• 1. Frequency of driving

  ○ Never ○ Seldom ○ Sometimes ○ Often ○ Always

• 2. Gender

  ○ Male ○ Female

• 3. Age

  ○ < 25 ○ 25–35 ○ 36–45 ○ > 45

• 4. Education level

  ○ Middle school or less ○ High school ○ College/University ○ Masters or above

• 5. Year(s) of driving experience

  ○ < 3 ○ 3–5 ○ 6–10 ○ > 10

1.2 Part 2: The extended TPB model items

Item	Description
Self-reported yielding behavior (never to always from 1 to 5)
1	I yielded to pedestrian when making a turn during the past 3 months
Intention to yielding to pedestrian when making a turn (IN) (strongly disagree to strongly agree from 1 to 5)
1	I am willing to yield to pedestrian when making a turn
2	I will encourage my family members and friends to yield to pedestrian when making a turn
3	I will yield to pedestrian when making a turn in the future period of time
Attitude (ATT) (strongly disagree to strongly agree from 1 to 5)
1	I think that rear-end collision by a sudden braking may happen if I yield to pedestrian when making a
2	I think that yielding to pedestrian when making a turn will waste my time
3	I think that yielding to pedestrian when making a turn will make my driving less smoothly turn
4	I think refusing to yielding to pedestrian when making a turn is a retaliation to people who crossed roads without obeying traffic regulations
5	Whether or not yielding to pedestrian when making a turn depend on my mood
Subjective norm (SN) (strongly disagree to strongly agree from 1 to 5)
1	My family members think that I should yield to pedestrian when making a turn
2	My friends/classmates/colleagues think that I should yield to pedestrian when making a turn
3	News and media propagate that I should yield to pedestrian when making a turn
4	Traffic laws require that I should yield to pedestrian when making a turn
Perceived behavioral control (PBC) (strongly disagree to strongly agree from 1 to 5)
1	I can react quickly to emergencies when driving, so I am able to yield to pedestrian timely when making a turn
2	I can maintain my attention when driving, so I am able to yield to pedestrian when making a turn
Risk perception (RP) (very unlikely to very likely from 1 to 5)
1	The possibility of harming pedestrian safety if I do not yield to pedestrian when making a turn
2	The possibility of making accident compensation to injured pedestrians if I do not yield to pedestrian when making a turn
3	The possibility of being punished if I do not yield to pedestrian when making a turn
New countermeasure (NC) (very unlikely to very likely from 1 to 5) The example of new countermeasure
1	The possibility of yielding to pedestrian when turning at an intersection with colored crosswalk markings
2	The possibility of yielding to when turning at an intersection with specially patterned crosswalk markings
Traditional countermeasure (TC) (very unlikely to very likely from 1 to 5)
1	The possibility of yielding to pedestrian when turning at an intersection with “YIELD TO PEDESTRIAN” marking behind stop line
2	The possibility of yielding to pedestrian when turning at an intersection with traffic police or auxiliary police (TC2)
3	The possibility of yielding to pedestrian when turning at an intersection with white crosswalk markings (TC3)
4	The possibility of yielding to when turning at an intersection with continental markings (TC4)

1.3 Part 3: Addition

• 1. Have you ever crossed intersection with new crosswalk markings shown in the picture below?

  

  ○ yes ○ no

• 2. What do you think the extent to which new crosswalk markings improve drivers’ yielding behavior compared to the continental marking? (did not improve to obviously improved from 1 to 5)

  ○ 1 ○ 2 ○ 3 ○ 4 ○ 5