Student Attitudes toward Crosswalk Usages in School Zones

Abstract

School zones are the area that many pedestrians, especially young students, are presented. Crossing the road in the school zones increase the chance of accidents during road crossing. This research investigates students' attitudes toward crosswalk usage in school zones by using questionnaire survey, aiming at attitude toward crosswalk usage and experience in crossing roads in the school zone. In addition, safety attitudes toward road crossing in a scenario are examined through a set of hypothetical scenarios based on 4 components, including pedestrian traffic light, crosswalk marking, intersection, and obstruction around a crosswalk. Results from 430 respondents indicate that female students have better attitudes toward road crossing, and worse experience of road crossing in a school zone, comparing to male counterparts. The experimental design results reveal that pedestrians feel most secure to cross in a crosswalk with pedestrian traffic light, which has a 2.14 higher score points, comparing with those pedestrians without traffic light. Besides, it is found that crossings at nearby intersection and with obstacles together have a significantly higher risk to cross.