Conditions that Influence Drivers’ Behaviors at Roundabouts: Increasing Yielding for Pedestrians who are Visually Impaired

Introduction This study examined the effects on drivers’ yields of seven conditions (pedestrian behaviors) at a roundabout, measuring yielding behaviors. Methods At a roundabout, drivers’ yielding responses were recorded (none, soft, hard) when a pedestrian presented one of seven conditions: pedestrian without long cane, long cane display, hand up, reversible step (a single step forward into the street), head turn gaze, hand up plus gaze, and a reversible step plus gaze. Trials were completed at the crosswalks at the entrance and exit lanes. Results At the entry and exit lanes, the hand up and reversible step conditions received significantly higher yield percentages than all other conditions. At the exit lanes, the reversible step condition received a significantly higher yield percentage than the hand up condition. There was no significant difference among the three head turn gaze conditions: hand up, hand up plus gaze, and reversible step plus gaze. The hand up and reversible step strategies averaged 83% yielding overall, compared with 20% yielding for the other strategies. Discussion This study demonstrates that forced detectable yields may be generated when pedestrians have not entered the travel lanes of the street at a crosswalk or have only entered the very edge of the street. Gazing behaviors do not substantially influence drivers’ yielding rates. Implications for practitioners Using a hand up or reversible step can allow pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind to create circumstances to help determine if and when to initiate a crossing at a roundabout.