Driver behaviour was observed at three junctions in Helsinki which are subject to the right hand rule. The aim was to find how frequently hazardous behaviour occurs at junctions and which factors affect this. An experimental method was used in which the observations made by the driver, driving speeds, risk taking and conflict situations were recorded. The data comprised 2399 vehicles passing through the junctions. In urban areas accidents often occur at junctions. Risk taking consists of driving too fast, utilising too short safety margins, observational and judgemental errors, poor sight conditions and `psychological right of way' as opposed to actual priority situation. 20% of drivers looked to right by turning their head, only few drove faster than 50 km/h speed limit, less than 2.5% accepted a gap less than 2.5 seconds, and less 5% had safety margin less than 1.5 second. The number of drivers neglecting to look right is alarmingly high; 1 out of 5 did not turn their head. The speed limit at these junctions is too high; safe limit would be 20-30 km/h. On a broad street where drivers considered they had psychological right of way, drivers drove into junction fast and committed most traffic violations.
Abstract