Countdown pedestrian signals (CPS) are increasingly being used as a supplementary device of traditional pedestrian signals to improve pedestrian safety in China. This research examined the impact of CPS on pedestrian crossing behaviors in Shanghai. Pedestrians¡¯ behaviors were studied at the two similar characteristics intersections in the same road, one with CPS andthe other without CPS. Data including Proportion Waiting for the Pedestrian Green, Proportion Entering Crosswalk during the different signal changeinterval displays, Proportion successful crossing during the Pedestrian Green Flashing (PGF) and CPS Displays were collected. The Pedestrian Walking Speeds during different signal change interval displays were analyzed. Asurvey to gain further understanding of the public¡¯s interpretation of the countdown signal was done. The results revealed that the percentage of young people that arrived during the signal change interval and waited forthe walk signal nearly not change after the countdown signal was introduced while the percentage for old people decreased dramatically. CPS dramatically increases the proportion of successful crossing of pedestrians who arriving during the signal change interval and entering the crosswalk. Compared with normal PGF, CPS change the walking speed distribution of pedestrians and this effect are more dramatically at the last time span of signalchange interval. The understanding of real meaning of pedestrian clearance time is also not improved by countdown signal. The benefits of CPS in improving safety are more obviously for old people than young people.
Abstract