Selecting Traffic Signal Types for Safer Pedestrian Crossings in Urban Areas: A Multi-Group OPA Decision Framework

Improving pedestrian safety at urban intersections is a key challenge for achieving safer and more sustainable urban transport systems. This study develops a multi-criteria decision-making model (MCDM) for selecting the most appropriate traffic signal type at pedestrian crossings in different urban zones. Traffic conditions, illegal pedestrian crossings and the number of traffic accidents were taken into account during the modelling, as well as the characteristics of the urban environment. The research involved 66,616 pedestrians at 22 pedestrian crossings located in three urban zones: school zones, central zones, and non-central zones. The data were aggregated using Bayesian (beta-binomial) and classical statistical methods. The OPA-Group method was then used to develop the model. In the decision-making phase, the Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA) was applied as the core MCDM method. It was then extended to the OPA-Group framework to incorporate group-based evaluation in accordance with the model requirements. Additionally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted, confirming the robustness and stability of the proposed model. The results show that traditional traffic signals are most suitable for school and non-central zones, whereas countdown traffic signals are recommended for central zones. Push-button traffic signals were identified as the least efficient solution for regulating pedestrian movement at pedestrian crossings.