Modelling the Risk of Pedestrians in Walkways

Abstract

Pedestrians engaged crashes were increased day by day in the world. There is a high risk of accidents for pedestrians when crossing the road than walking on the road. To minimize the crash rate on pedestrians it is important to know about the risks faced by pedestrians on the road. This study aimed to report pedestrians’ perceptions of risks while walking and crossing the road. A questionnaire survey was carried out to get the data about pedestrians’ perceptions of risks while walking and crossing the road in Matara district. Data were collected with questions with a five-point scale during August and September 2021 from 225 females and 175 males. The collected data were validated by estimating the Cronbach Alpha values. And analyzed using chi-square tests and multinomial logistic regression analysis. The results of the study were shown the usage of that technical device while walking on the road is the most reported (66.2%) pedestrian risk in the walkways. Whereas crossing the road without using pedestrian crossings is the most reported risk (73%) during the time of crossing the road. The chisquare test results of the survey were indicated that some of the self-reported risks have a significant association with age and gender. Male pedestrians involved with risky behaviours than female pedestrians because male pedestrians have high observed values than the expected values in the reported risks. Age groups, less than 18 years and 18-30 pedestrians were mostly engaged with risky behaviours on the road. Their observed values in the pedestrian risks especially in using technical devices on the road are higher than the observed values compared to other age groups. When the average walking distance of pedestrians per day is increased, accidents happening on pedestrians is also increased. The results of this study would help infrastructure designers to make safer roads.