The research question is whether (1) certain features of the design and layout of a crossing facility, (2) the layout of the road segment in which it is situated, and (3) external factors have a road safety influence. If so, what is the influence? The study was limited to the difference in safety between sustainably-safe (S-S) and non-sustainably-safe (non S-S) zebra crossings. As the most important feature of a S-S zebra crossing, the raised area was chosen. Seven hypotheses were drawn up and tested by behaviour observations. These concerned the behaviour (when they interacted) of the pedestrian crossing over and the driver, and the approach speed of the motorized traffic. The most important conclusions from this were: Pedestrians at a S-S zebra have less confidence in a correct granting of right-of-way than pedestrians at a non S-S zebra. The former, however, leads to less potential conflict situations; and the average approach speed at a S-S zebra crossing (39 km/h) was 7% slower than at a non S-S zebra (42 km/h), which leads to a safer situation. But the approach speed at a S-S zebra is also faster than 30 km/h, i.e. faster than permitted when mixed traffic is involved. This
Abstract