ABSTRACT
Because pedestrians and vehicles must share the same roadways, the result can be a conflict between the two. In such conflicts the pedestrian is typically the loser. Street crossing can be quite complex for some pedestrians in certain situations; for example, a task analysis for child pedestrians by van der Molen (1981) identified 26 subtasks. In the street-crossing task, the road is scanned, traffic is perceived, and judgments are made about the distance, speed, and movement of vehicles. This information is processed and stored and, on the basis of it, a decision is made about whether or where to cross the road. Various factors have an impact upon pedestrian behavior and safety:
• Environment (road type, intersections, surfaces, lighting, regulations) • Traffic (volume, moving and stationary vehicles, communication)
• Personal (physical, psychological, and personal characteristics; motivation; age; experience)
• Social (presence of others, purpose of journey, play)
16.2 Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents have been classified in various ways. Snyder (1972) proposes the following types:
• Dart-out, first half: a pedestrian, not at an intersection, appears suddenly from the roadside.
