A driving simulator study to assess the effect of environmental factors on drivers' interactions with pedestrians

Either due to driver behaviours (e.g., errors or violations), environmental factors (e.g., reduced visibility or adverse weather conditions), or a combination of multiple elements, drivers may only detect vulnerable road users later than expected to ensure safety, resulting in fatalities and injuries. 

One of the intervention methods that can be used to proactively prevent such crashes is the use of LED strips worn by pedestrians on their moveable joints to improve the conspicuity of vulnerable road users.

In this study, the effects of several driver (age and cognitive load) and environmental (zebra crossing, lighting, LED strips) factors on the drivers’ yielding behaviour in response to pedestrian crossing were investigated.

During the presentation, results from subjective and objective data will be presented on factors affecting the yielding behaviour of drivers and the perception of LED strips from the drivers’ perspective.


Dr İbrahim Öztürk, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds

İbrahim Öztürk PhD is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Traffic and Transportation Psychology from Middle East Technical University (Türkiye).

 His research focuses on self-reported and simulated driver behaviours, traffic safety culture, and individual differences in road user-vehicle technology interaction across cultures.