Discrepancy between actual and estimated speeds of drivers in presence of child pedestrians

1. Discrepancy between actual and estimated speeds of drivers in presence of child pedestrians 學生：董瑩蟬

2. Purpose • This paper aim investigated the driver estimated vehicles speed different between children present and no children present. • Used observed investigated the driver’s speed and used questionnaire collect the driver estimated speed. They want to know the different between measure and estimated speed.

3. Reference • Some studies found a strong association between vehicle speed and injury risk. (Stevenson et al.,1995; Roberts et al.,1995) • The vehicle speed 40 Kph were ca 25% fatal crashes, and 50 kph rises to 58%. (Anderson et al.,1997)

4. Reference • The age had impact on the driver behavior, the pedestrians appeared effect avoidance action. (Howarth et al.,1980) • The studies showed when an adult pedestrian presence that the speed were significantly higher than no pedestrian present. And present a children pedestrian no significant difference in speed. (Thomson et al.,1985)

5. Method-1 • The study 1 was measured speed of vehicles in the presence of child pedestrians: • Site • Vehicles amount 700-750 each 55 minute • Road width 14.5 metres, speed limit 50 kph • Measurement from 3.35-4.30PM • Equipment • Speed tubes: measured speeds • Computer: measured the gap

6. Method • There were three conductions: • Control: no children present • Children playing with a ball on the footpath • Children waiting to cross

7. Method • Participant • Total of 1446 vehicle speed recorded • The conditions were run in five minute slots in the following order: 1,2,1,3,1,2,3,1,2,1,3 • Study 2: driver’s perceptions of the speed they travel past children • The question also record participants’ gender and age. There are 67 male and 26 female. Age group include 28 person16-25 years, and 47 was 26-45 years, 18 aged was more than 46 years. • The questionnaire was delivered to 100 drivers

8. Method • The questionnaires was include five question: • In normal traffic conditions during the day or weekend • When there are children playing with a ball on the footpath • When there are children waiting to cross the road • When there is an elderly pedestrian in the middle of the road • When there is heavy traffic and a lot of cars pulling in and out

9. Result

10. Result • The three conduction was significant different on vehicles speed. F(2,764)=10.89,P<0.001 • The questionnaire version was significant different on speed estimate. F(3,79)=3.22,P<0.05 • The measure speed was 42.76 significant higher than estimated 35.38 on the children playing with a ball. F(1,81)=4.21, P<0.05

11. Result • The no children pedestrian present was no significant different between measure speed and estimated speed. • There were different between measure speed and estimated speed in the children playing with a ball. F(1,300)=195.34,P<0.001 • There were different between measure speed and estimated speed on waiting to cross. F(1,304)=183.12,P<0.001

12. Discussion • The similar result found that the children present the driver’s speed may minimal reductions. (Varhelyi. A, 1998; Thomson SJ et al.,1985. • The previous studies showed that a large number of pedestrian tend to slow drivers down. (Varhelyi. A, 1998; Thomson SJ et al.,1985; Katz A et al.,1975)

13. Discussion • The was evidence that driver has different response between children present and no pedestrian. The result Similar on pedestrian judging the speed and distance of approaching. (Connelly ML et a.,1998; Demetre JD et al., 1992)

14. Conclusion • The children present effect driver’s speed. • The measure speed was 42.76 higher than estimated 35.38 on the children playing with a ball. • The estimated speed and estimated speed has different on children playing with a ball and waiting to cross.