About a quarter of all traffic accident fatalities in Japan are pedestrian traffic accidents, for which the major cause is pedestrians' disregard of the traffic signals. Factors contributing to the disregard of signals include unreasonable signal control, that is, either that a red light is displayed although there is no vehicular traffic or the failure of the signalto gain the attention of the pedestrians. The Signal Control Advancement Working System has implemented field experiments for signal control and information for pedestrian safety by controlling these factors that contributed to the disregard of signals, while examining a signal control system that ensures the safety of pedestrians. Trials at actual junctions are described including an earlier green light for pedestrians crossing secondary roads, extending the green light for pedestrians crossing a primary road, and an audio device to provide a warning on pedestrians' disregard of signals. An improvement in the behaviour of pedestrians was observed without abuild-up of traffic. For the covering abstract see ITRD E134653.
Abstract