Analyzing key determinants of pedestrian risky behaviors at urban signalized intersections: insights from Kolkata City, India

Risky pedestrian behaviors, such as signal violations, crossing from undesignated points, walking on the main carriageway instead of footpaths, and waiting at undesignated locations for buses, contribute to a significant number of pedestrian-vehicular collisions at urban signalized junctions in Indian cities. Therefore, identifying the factors influencing risky pedestrian behavior is crucial in urban India. A total of 59,409 pedestrians' road-using behavior was analyzed using video surveillance, complemented by on-site questionnaire responses from 3840 pedestrians regarding their risk perception, self-reported behaviors, and knowledge of traffic rules. Binary and ordered logit models were employed to assess the impact of the built environment, sociodemographic factors, and traffic enforcement on unsafe pedestrian actions. Results reveal a strong association between unsafe behavior and commercial zones, with young males more prone to signal violations and unsafe crossings. Further, poor lighting, inaccessible zebra crossings, on-street parking, lack of enforcement, and longer waiting times influence the likelihood of signal violations. A 1% increase in footpath encroachment by street vendors leads to an 18% rise in footpath underutilization. The lack of essential amenities and poor accessibility at bus stops discourages pedestrians from waiting at designated locations. Low educational levels and limited awareness of traffic rules exacerbate unsafe behaviors.