Abstract
Background: Younger and older pedestrians are both overrepresented in train-pedestrian injury and fatality collision databases. However, scant research has attempted to determine the factors that influence level crossing behaviours for these high risk groups. Method: Five focus groups were undertaken with a total of 27 younger and 17 older pedestrian level crossing users (N = 44). Due to the lack of research in the area, a focus group methodology was implemented to gain a deeper exploratory understanding into the sample’s decision making processes through a pilot study. The three main areas of enquiry were identifying the: (a) primary reasons for unsafe behaviour; (b) factors that deter this behaviour and (c) proposed interventions to improve pedestrian safety at level crossings in the future. Results: Common themes to emerge from both groups regarding the origins of unsafe behaviours were: running late and a fatalistic perspective that some accidents are inevitable. However, younger pedestrians were more likely to report motivators to be: (a) non-perception of danger; (b) impulsive risk taking; and (c) inattention. In contrast, older pedestrians reported their decisions to cross are influenced by mobility issues and sensory salience. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a range of factors influence pedestrian crossing behaviours. This paper will further outline the major findings of the research in regards to intervention development and future research direction.
Highlights
Pedestrian-train collisions are a significant problem internationally [1]
In addition to the social and emotional cost of these accidents, an earlier estimate by the Australian Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics revealed the financial cost of a fatality to be $1.9 million [4], and $27,000 for a serious injury, these figures are likely to be an underestimate of the total cost [5]
The identified themes from the data were categorised in relation to the three aims of the research, which are to identify the: (a) origins of behaviour; (b) deterrent factors that could prevent unsafe behaviours, and (c) areas of need in regard to future intervention development
Summary
Pedestrian-train collisions are a significant problem internationally [1]. In Australia, between 2001 and 2010, there were 91 collisions between trains and pedestrians, which equates to an average of 10 collisions per year [2]. Several factors have been proposed to increase the risk of being struck by a train. These factors are predominantly related to demographics and will be briefly reviewed below. Younger and older pedestrians are both overrepresented in train-pedestrian injury and fatality collision databases. Scant research has attempted to determine the factors that influence level crossing behaviours for these high risk groups. Method: Five focus groups were undertaken with a total of 27 younger and 17 older pedestrian level crossing users (N = 44). The three main areas of enquiry were identifying the: (a) primary reasons for unsafe behaviour; (b) factors that deter this behaviour and (c) proposed interventions to improve pedestrian safety at level crossings in the future. Conclusion: The findings indicate that a range of factors influence
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