In a new research on the observation of pedestrian behaviour, we have selected two opposing forms of behaviour for study, starting from the crossing situation. The dangers involved in certain cases of rule-complying behaviour are opposed to the dangers of consciously breaking the rule and taking extra risk. The crossing behaviour of elderly pedestrians was one problem to be studied. As they are known for better observing the rules than other age groups of road users, we wanted to know, how safe they really are and what sorts of problems they have to cope with, when choosing the "safest" way to cross the road. The other area of investigation was to see the circumstances of conscious crossing violations and the motives underlying them. We analysed the extremes of rule-compliance and risk taking. (A)
Samenvatting