The study is a traffic safety evaluation of a new device for pedestrians, here called "pre-marking". Pre-marking is aimed to improve the situation for pedestrians crossing a wide street at zebra crossings. The improvement was supposed to be derived from the creation of a "buffer zone" between a car that has stopped to let a pedestrian over the street and vehicles in the other lanes. If the car stops some meters away from the zebra marking it does not hinder the sight between the pedestrian and other vehicles in the other lane. The pre-marking was evaluated with conflict studies, speed measurements and behavioural studies. The study design was a classical before- and after study. We may conclude that there is a serious safety problem for pedestrians crossing wide streets, that this problem is at least partly related to overtaking cars and that the pre-marking, in the way that is was introduced here is not a strong enough measure to reduce that pedestrian risk.
Abstract