Explaining unsafe pedestrian road crossing behaviours using a Psychophysics-based gap acceptance model

Accidents involving pedestrians are particularly common at unsignalised intersections and mid-block crosswalks, where vehicles often do not yield to them. Analysing understanding pedestrian crossing behaviour such locations is vital for improving road safety. Previous studies have repeatedly shown that tend accept smaller time gaps in conditions with higher vehicle speeds thus potentially less safe. This has prompted the hypothesis rely on spatial distance make decisions. However, few investigated mechanism underpinning this phenomenon. We propose a novel approach characterise behaviour: psychophysics-based gap acceptance (PGA) model based visual looming cues binary choice logit method. Road data collected simulated experiment were used analyse test model. Our analysis indicates that, line previous studies, speed increased tendency of acceptance, leading rate unsafe crossings. Crucially, PGA could accurately account these decisions across experimental scenarios, more parsimoniously than conventional These results explain speed-induced by suggesting apply looming, which depends distance, study reinforces notion two same gap, one can elicit risky from pedestrians, resulting severe accidents. The practical implications traffic safety management, modelling development automated discussed.