Pedestrians’ perception and response towards vehicles during road-crossing at nighttime

Pedestrian being involved in road traffic accidents (RTA) is about 22% of all road traffic related deaths. In this study, we have estimated the pedestrian's response towards an approaching vehicle and the time taken to correctly recognize it while they crossed the road in dim-light nighttime conditions. This is also extendable to cycles and other low powered vehicles. Thirty volunteers participated in this study. A collection of six videos, which comprised of different vehicle scenarios were shown to each of the participants. It was observed that correct identification and time to recognize the vehicle was fastest when light emitting diode (LED) strip was fixed between headlights of a four–wheeler. Average time to recognize a low beam car and a high beam car with an LED strip was 7.62 ± 2.39 s and 11.23 ± 2.94 s respectively, whereas correct identification rates of the said low beam and high beam cars with LED strips were 93.33% and 86.67% respectively. Earlier when no LED was used, time to recognize low beam car and high beam car without LED strip were 20.55 ± 3.50 s and 25.57 ± 4.14 s respectively whereas correct identification of low beam car without LED strip and high beam car without LED strip were 90.00% and 56.67% respectively. Pedestrians are therefore less confused and can take right decision while crossing the road – particularly in a poor lighting environment – when there is a demarcating illumination between headlights of vehicle.