Relationship between the noncompliance behavior at signalized intersection an driver characteristics

Abstract

Traffic accidents at intersections are a very serious problem. They constitute about 50% of all urban accidents. Human factors are one of the major causes of these accidents. Hence a clear understanding of the relationships between socio-economic and attitudinal characteristics of drivers and their violation involvement is esential.

The objective of this study was to determine the types and frequencies of violations at signalized intersections in Eastern Province and to investigate the relationship between the driver noncompliance at signalized intersections and driver characteristics. The study was carried out through field surveys at five different locations in Eastern Province and road side interviews for signal violators and non violators.

It was found that violation frequencies in Eastern Province are very high as compared to violation frequencies in USA. Provision of left turn lane, provision of pedestrain crossing and improvement in sight distance reduce the violation frequencies significantly. The driving attitudes of drivers in Eastern Province were groped in to four main attitudes by means of factor analysis of attitudes. The mean factor scores of these four groups suggested that there is no significant difference between the attitudes of red light violators and the attitudes of non violators in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Finally some recommendations were made for the reduction of noncompliance at signalized intersections.