ABSTRACT

In the Decade of Action for Road Safety, the vulnerability of pedestrians to severe outcomes from road crash is well-recognized. This study explored the factors that are influential in pedestrians’ decisions to cross a high-traffic highway in Ugbowo, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, by using a footbridge over the highway, or by cutting across the highway in close proximity to a footbridge.  This paper also presents findings from an observational study of pedestrian behaviours at a sidewalk and a proposed crosswalk location. Participants were recruited at each pedestrian facility and completed an online survey exploring demographics, highway crossing behavior, and attitudes regarding the safety of the crossing. Bases on the findings of this study, pedestrians Ugbowo axis of Benin City use the footbridgeout of unavailability of access through other means. The general dislike of the is as a result of itsheight and by extension it's steps. It was also discovered that the participants would appreciate the construction the proposed crosswalk but opted against it because they believe that motorists won't respect it. Finally, the participants preferred to use the sidewalk because it separated them from motorists. The findings highlight the complexity involved in improving pedestrian road safety, particularly in their per-planned behavior makes the creation of more facilities to not be the only solution in the much larger road safety system.

Keywords: Footbridges; pedestrian; crossing; highway; vulnerable road users; human-infrastructure integration; sidewalk; crosswalk.