The underlying factors governing why pedestrians interact with pedestrian signals and pushbuttons the way they do can inform design guidance and modifications which encourage pedestrians to use infrastructure more safely and efficiently. Therefore, a recruited participant experiment using eye tracking technology was performed to explore pedestrian signal compliance and pushbutton use. A total of 48 participants completed diagonal and adjacent crossings through three intersections in Corvallis, Oregon, USA with varying infrastructure characteristics. Visual fixations on traffic signals, pedestrian signals, pushbutton signage, and pushbuttons were recorded and analyzed. Participants crossed against the WALK signal (jaywalked) in about 14% of crossing tasks and were more likely to cross against the WALK signal on a diagonal crossing.
Pushbutton use varied between 79% and 88%, depending on location. Those participants who pressed a pushbutton allocated a greater amount of visual attention to pedestrian signals and traffic signals earlier in their approach to the pushbutton pole starting 10 to 11 s before button press, with fixations on pushbuttons and pushbutton signage increasing around 5 s before button press. Participants also attended to signage to make correct button presses—particularly at a location where two pushbuttons were co-located on one pole and pushbutton orientation was inconsistent within the intersection configuration. Field experiment and follow-up survey data suggest that separating pushbuttons on different poles and maintaining consistent pushbutton orientation can encourage more efficient use of pedestrian push buttons.
