Questionnaire based study of drivers’ error and violation at four-legged signalized intersection

ABSTRACT

It is an enduring challenge to know the underlying determinants (factors and actors) for developing safe roads from the driving behavior perspective. Human (driver) errors and violations are generally referred as the most frequent cause of road accidents. This research analyzed a driver questionnaire survey of 584 drivers covering their behavior (error and deliberate violations) and safety-related attitudes while completing their driving task, at four-legged signalized intersections in India. We analyzed the driver behavior in terms of lane choice, signage and marking apprehension, tailgating, and vehicle speed consciousness at intersections, and their tendency to commit errors or violations. Driving frequency was found to have a significant effect on both Inattentive Error/Confused Error (IE/CE) and Risky Self-willed Violation (RSV). Gender was found to significantly affect only RSV and age influences only IE/CE. Highway agencies can consider the findings in developing user-friendly and self-explanatory road infrastructure with improved road users’ safety features.

KEYWORDS:

• Driver behavior questionnaire
• intersection
• principal component analysis
• chi-square test
• anova
• error

Acknowledgments

This research was partially supported through the Research Initiation Grant (RIG Head 06/03/302) by Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani, India. The authors sincerely thank all the anonymous drivers who participated in the survey and students who helped us in data collection. Thanks to BITS Pilani for the financial support to present a part of this work in WCTRS 2019 in Mumbai, India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani [RIG Head 06/03/302].