Yielding Behaviors of Right-Turn-on-Red Drivers to a White Cane User

Abstract This study tested the null hypothesis that drivers turning right-on-red will not yield (defined as declining to turn during an acceptable gap) more often when a pedestrian who used a cane was present. The researchers recorded and evaluated drivers’ gap acceptance (N=93) under three conditions: with and without a pedestrian presence at the crosswalk, and with a pedestrian present using a flagging cane strategy. Results: When there was no pedestrian present, drivers did not accept the gap (yielded) 46.7% of the time; when a pedestrian was present 25%, and when the pedestrian flagged with a cane was at the corner, significantly more at 90.3% (p < .001). Discussion: The findings indicate that even when drivers are monitoring for a traffic gap to their left side at a red signal, pedestrians who are blind using a cane with movement may increase the likelihood of vehicles yielding as they prepare and initiate a crossing.