Effects of Pedestrian Countdown Signals on Pedestrian Behavior

Abstract

Pedestrian countdown signals have been used at mid-block and intersection crosswalks, in Bangkok, for more than a decade. The countdown starts at the beginning of the pedestrian signal phase and goes down to zero at the end of the phase. The countdown is simply used to tell pedestrians when the pedestrian signal phase is going to end. Pedestrians must decide whether he/she be able to cross the intersection based on the remaining time. Consequently, pedestrians always find themselves at the middle of an intersection at the end of the pedestrian signal phase. This can lead to serious accidents on the crosswalk. The Department of Highways recognizes the problem of using an existing pedestrian countdown numbers signal. So, a “Don’t Walk” phase with a countdown signal was introduced and installed at two intersections, Rinkum intersection and Tedsaban Hua-Hin Intersection. This phase is given immediately after the pedestrian green phase. This research will study the behavior of pedestrians on the intersection crosswalk which were installed the new pedestrian countdown signal. It includes the success of crossing an intersection, pedestrians’ perception, pedestrian walking speed and so on.