Researchers from Shandong University Discuss Findings in Risk Management (The influence of pedestrian countdown signals on children’s crossing…

Researchers from Shandong University Discuss Findings in Risk Management (The influence of pedestrian countdown signals on children's crossing behavior at school intersections)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Investigators publish new report on Risk Management. According to news reporting out of Jinan, People's Republic of China, by VerticalNews editors, research stated, "Previous studies have shown that pedestrian countdown signals had different influences on pedestrian crossing behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the installation of countdown signals at school intersections on children's crossing behavior."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Shandong University, "A comparison analysis was carried out on the basis of observations at two different school intersections with or without pedestrian countdown signals in the city of Jinan, China. Four types of children's crossing behavior and child pedestrian-vehicle conflicts were analyzed in detail. The analysis results showed that using pedestrian countdown timers during the Red Man phase led to more children's violation and running behavior. Theses violators created more conflicts with vehicles. However, pedestrian countdown signals were effective at helping child pedestrian to complete crossing before the red light onset, avoid getting caught in the middle of crosswalk. No significant difference was found in children who started crossing during Flashing Green Man phase between the two types of pedestrian signals. Moreover, analysis results indicated that children who crossed the road alone had more violation and adventure crossing behavior than those had companions. Boys were found more likely to run crossing than girls, but there was no significant gender difference in other crossing behavior. Finally, it's recommended to remove countdown at the end of the Red Man phase to improve children's crossing behavior and reduce the conflicts with vehicles."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Meanwhile other measures are proposed to improve children safety at school intersections."

For more information on this research see: The influence of pedestrian countdown signals on children's crossing behavior at school intersections. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2016;94():73-79. Accident Analysis and Prevention can be contacted at: Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, England. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Accident Analysis and Prevention - www.journals.elsevier.com/accident-analysis-and-prevention/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting University, Sch Control Sci & Engn, Jinan 250061, People's Republic of China.

Keywords for this news article include: Jinan, People's Republic of China, Asia, Risk Management, Shandong University.

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