Emese Makó

55933097000

Publications - 13

Challenges and Implications of Pedestrian Yielding Compliance in Thailand and Laos: A Field Study Analysis

Emese Makó Souvathone Phetoudom

Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 1258 LNNS

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 120-131

Description:

In Thailand and Laos, drivers frequently disregard international road traffic regulations, particularly the mandate to yield to pedestrians. This behavior compels pedestrians to rely on their judgment to assess safety gaps and cross independently, as drivers often do not prioritize them. Interestingly, many pedestrians choose to cross the road outside of designated crossings, which may reflect an adaptive behavior rooted in local cognitive and cultural contexts. In contrast, European countries have well-defined and strictly enforced regulations that require drivers to yield to pedestrians, resulting in safer pedestrian experiences. However, in Thailand and Laos, the lack of effective enforcement and compliance leads to hazardous pedestrian crossings. The disparity in pedestrian safety between these regions can be partly attributed to cognitive and behavioral factors, such as risk perception, learned behaviors, and cultural norms, which influence both pedestrian and driver actions. This study employed the field study method to analyze driver yielding rates at 12 locations in Udon Thani, Thailand, and Vientiane, Laos. Data collection encompassed traffic flow in both directions and was conducted under typical weather conditions on a standard working day, focusing on the rate and type of yielding by drivers. The findings reveal a minimal proportion of drivers who yield to pedestrians, with some locations exhibiting particularly low compliance rates. While a zero yielding rate theoretically increases road capacity by allowing continuous vehicle flow, it also endangers pedestrians, leading to potential accidents that can disrupt traffic flow. This situation underscores the need to consider cognitive and behavioral dimensions, such as how drivers perceive pedestrians and the habitual actions of both groups, in road design and traffic management policies. An understanding of these cognitive and behavioral aspects, alongside local cultural practices, is crucial for developing effective safety campaigns and infrastructural improvements that can enhance pedestrian safety in these regions.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-81799-1_12

Virtual and Real World Assessment of Pedestrian Confidence in LED Interface

Emese Makó Symbat Zhanguzhinova

Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 1258 LNNS

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 69-76

Description:

The number of road accidents is decreasing slightly in developed countries, mainly due to technological advancements and government actions. However, accidents involving vulnerable users, such as pedestrians, remain high. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to benefit pedestrians, though their interaction with pedestrians raises questions. Common driver behaviors like gestures, eye contact, and flashing lights indicate a willingness to yield, which AVs must replicate. Our research compares two experiments: a virtual reality (VR) pedestrian crossing with an LED display on a virtual AV and a real traffic scenario using the same LED display on an actual car. We investigated how much pedestrians rely on LED communication and whether there are differences between VR and real-world settings. A questionnaire gathered demographic data and trust levels in LEDs. The VR experiment had 51 participants, while the real traffic experiment involved 136 pedestrians. Overall, 82% responded positively to the LED display, with gender and age being insignificant factors. A rapid learning process indicated that explicit communication patterns were self-explanatory. In the VR experiment, 75% moderately trusted the LED display, while 18% fully trusted it. In real traffic, 44% fully trusted the display after familiarization, but skepticism was higher compared to the VR setting.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-81799-1_7

Evaluating Stakeholder Opinion on Traffic Engineering Devices to Improve Pedestrian Crossing Safety Around Schools in Small Villages

Emese Makó Kurmangaliyev Zhiger

Publication Name: Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

Publication Date: 2025-01-01

Volume: 1258 LNNS

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 58-68

Description:

Despite the greater attention and investment in pedestrian safety measures typically allocated to urban areas, rural villages are frequently overlooked in this respect. A school zone typically applied in urban contexts, refers to a road network surrounding a school where younger pedestrians are likely to be present. The research objective was to gain insight into the traffic preferences of key stakeholders, including teachers, pupils, parents, and representatives of the road authority, regarding the safety of pedestrian crossings in the vicinity of small village schools. A survey was conducted at selected primary schools with relatively high traffic volumes and a high risk of pedestrian accidents. The survey evaluated six different types of designated pedestrian crossings equipped with different traffic engineering devices. The results of the Spearman rank correlation analysis indicate a high degree of alignment between the perspectives of parents and school pupils. At the same time, those of road professionals diverge significantly from those of parents. The teachers’ perspectives exhibit moderate alignment with those of school pupils and road professionals, positioning them in a middle ground between these two groups. The findings demonstrate that the traffic engineering measures deemed safe by road users do not always correspond with those preferred by road professionals. A discrepancy between perceived and actual safety is frequently observed. To address this discrepancy, it is crucial to educate pedestrians about the advantages of safety devices that engineers have identified as effective. Concurrently, it would be prudent for those responsible for the management of roadways to give due consideration to the preferences of pedestrians during their planning activities.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-81799-1_6

EVALUATION OF PEDESTRIANS' GAZE BEHAVIOR WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD USING EYE-TRACKING TECHNOLOGY: IMPLICATIONS FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE LED COMMUNICATION INTERFACE

Emese Makó Symbat Zhanguzhinova

Publication Name: Communications Scientific Letters of the University of Zilina

Publication Date: 2024-01-01

Volume: 26

Issue: 4

Page Range: D62-D70

Description:

Since autonomous vehicles (AV) are in the testing process, it is an open question of how pedestrians will communicate with self-driving cars. Nowadays, explicit communication pattern is the main way of pedestrian-driver interaction, however, AV may use implicit communication when making crossing decisions. This study aims to analyze pedestrians’ gaze behavior when crossing the road using an eye camera and find the most applicable location for the LED interface on AVs. 10 pedestrian crossings in Gyor, Hungary were analyzed using the synchronized eye-tracking (ET) technology and regular video cameras for combined data processing. The data were analyzed using digital image processing techniques and statistical methods to identify where pedestrians looked and whether a pedestrian-driver interaction was captured during the crossing maneuver.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.26552/com.C.2024.044

Analysis of Road Users’ Risk Behaviors in Different Travel Modes: The Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Pawinee Iamtrakul Emese Makó Sararad Chayphong Souvathone Phetoudom

Publication Name: Infrastructures

Publication Date: 2023-04-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 4

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study explores road users’ behaviors and accident analyses on different travel modes in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). The questionnaire survey was adopted and designed based on contributing factors related to risk behavior perceptions in different travel modes. A total of 3000 participants submitted questionnaires that provided data for a multiple regression model analysis. The results indicated that different travel modes have different risk behavior perceptions. Road users of vulnerable modes of travel, such as walking and cycling, were more aware of risky behaviors than users of others. Risky, violent behavior may occur due to fatigue, driving while taking drugs, or aggressive tactics where the driver may lose control and cause an accident. However, driver negligence, especially violating traffic rules, may sometimes cause risky behavior. The results show that age, gender, education level, income level, marital status, driving experience, accident experience, and attitude toward road safety affect risk behavior perception. In conclusion, the differentiation of vehicles plays a vital role as a critical issue that should be understood for effectively mitigating risks in different travel patterns.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/infrastructures8040079

Communication between Autonomous Vehicles and Pedestrians: An Experimental Study Using Virtual Reality

Emese Makó Csaba Koren Attila Borsos Symbat Zhanguzhinova Ágoston Pál Sándor

Publication Name: Sensors

Publication Date: 2023-02-01

Volume: 23

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

One of the major challenges of autonomous vehicles (AV) is their interaction with pedestrians. Unofficial interactions such as gestures, eye contact, waving, and flashing lights are very common behavioral patterns for drivers to express their intent to give priority. In our research we composed a virtual reality experiment for a pedestrian crossing in an urban environment in order to test pedestrians’ reactions on an LED light display mounted on a virtual AV. Our main research interest was to investigate whether communication patterns influence the decision making of pedestrians when crossing the road. In a VR environment, four scenarios were created with a vehicle approaching a pedestrian crossing with different speeds and displaying a special red/green sign to pedestrians. Here, 51 persons participating in the experiment had to decide when crossing is safe. Results show that the majority of people indicated they would cross in the time windows when it was actually safe to cross. Male subjects made their decision to cross slightly faster but no significant differences were found in the decision making by gender. It was found that age is not an influencing factor, either. Overall, a quick learning process was experienced proving that explicit communication patterns are self-explaining.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/s23031049

Transport Development Challenges of Brownfield Investments in the Name of Sustainability

Petra Szakonyi Emese Makó

Publication Name: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Water Energy Food and Sustainability Icowefs 2022

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 36-47

Description:

Reconstruction of brownfield sites is part of the EU cohesion policy, a priority area for EU development funding, and a permanent theme for the Committee of the Regions. Redevelopment of brownfield sites is also a solution to ensure sustainable urban sprawl and land management. One of the main advantages of brownfield investments over greenfield investments is, that on the one hand it is not necessary to build the utility infrastructure and road network because it is already built, and on the other hand the development is land-saving, as it is not necessary to declare new undeveloped areas as construction areas. Another advantage can be mentioned: the investment is implemented and the improvement of the environmental conditions, contributing to the appreciation and sustainable development of the settlement. At the same time, the development of brownfields causes challenges during urban planning. On the one hand, an attractive regulatory environment has to be created in the master plans for investors, usually with a high building ratio, but on the other hand, sustainable transport for the area still has to be ensured for the long term. According to our experiences, in order to satisfy the cost-effective investment intention of investors, there is a need to ensure the maximum build-up density of the area, which generates a much higher transport demand than before, which the existing transport infrastructure and services can no longer fulfil, and therefore capacity expansion will be required. However, to ensure sustainable settlement development, the additional traffic demand generated by the brownfield redevelopment must be served following the methodology and criteria of sustainable transport development. Using the experience of a Hungarian case study, the authors present a new brownfield redevelopment model, which can help decision-makers and planners to make the right settlement planning decisions, apply optimal transport planning criteria and methods, and select the adequate, sustainable transport development tools for brownfield investments, during preparation and implementation.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-26849-6_5

Introducing the Walkability Index, an Index That Measures the Walkability of Public Spaces

Emese Makó Viktória Hideg

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 583-588

Description:

In recent years an increasing number of cities and transport planning documents (such as Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan) aim to reduce car traffic and promote active modes of transport – walking and cycling. The development of active modes of transport is increasingly becoming a focus of urban planning. However, detailed information on the needs of pedestrians and aspects of the assessment of a pedestrian-friendly environment are usually not available. In most cases, the only indicator of the effectiveness of improvements is the modal split and the rate of pedestrians. An objective assessment method is needed to help identify areas that need to be developed for walking. The various planning regulations and legislation provide a framework for the design of pedestrian infrastructure, but many aspects that make public spaces attractive and pedestrian-friendly (green spaces, aesthetics, sense of safety, etc.) are not included in the regulations. This problem can be addressed by the walkability index, which can provide an objective, data-based measure of how pedestrian-friendly an area is. It can also be a tool for analysing and monitoring. It can show areas where walking conditions are inadequate and intervention is needed. Regularly carrying out the survey can also serve to analyse the impact of measures taken in the meantime. This article describes the methodology and application of the walkability index.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107098

Identifying Driver Behaviours Contributing to Road Safety Among Different Modes at Road Junctions, Peri-Urban Areas, Thailand

Pawinee Iamtrakul Emese Makó Sararad Chayphong

Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions

Publication Date: 2023-01-01

Volume: 107

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 589-594

Description:

The mismatch between land use and road layout has led to high traffic volumes in unsafe conditions in periurban areas. This is also the case in Pathumthai Province, which was selected as a study area, as one of the areas surrounding Bangkok, the megacity of Thailand. For this study, an attempt was made to focus on 4 points of road junctions of multi-lane highways and to observe their longitudinal differences with their speeds. The results showed that traffic volume has a major impact on accident risk, especially at higher traffic volumes and in mixed-traffic situations. The risk is increased by the presence of commercial vehicles mixed with smaller vehicles (e.g. motorcycles), which require sufficient distance between following vehicles. The novelty of this paper is identifying driver behaviours through the use of prototype CCTV technology and distinguishing the role that types of drivers' vehicles play in mitigating risks in different travel patterns, considering the safety aspects of highway design and land use.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3303/CET23107099

Evaluation of human behaviour at pedestrian crossings

Emese Makó

Publication Name: 6th IEEE Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications Coginfocom 2015 Proceedings

Publication Date: 2016-01-25

Volume: Unknown

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 443-447

Description:

Road traffic crashes result from a combination of factors related to the road layout, the vehicles, the road users and the way they interact. First the main causes of pedestrian fatalities and the safety effects of road measures (traffic lights, roundabouts and refuge islands) at pedestrian crossings before and after implementation were investigated. The results indicate that there is a strong evidence for the positive effect of these measures especially on the number of the pedestrian related accidents. In the next phase a site survey was conducted in order to estimate the irregular crossing manoeuvres of car drivers and pedestrians at designated pedestrian crossings. Having analysed the irregular movements according to the type of crossing it was found, that car drivers behave the most irregularly at crossings without a refuge island. Crossings equipped with flashing yellow lights, refuge islands and traffic lights require a much more appropriate behaviour from car drivers. In the next phase of the research the waiting time of pedestrians and the delay of vehicle drivers again at pedestrian crossings were surveyed. Our results suggest that there is a need for a strong contribution of the human and the engineering fields integrating the tools of cognitive infocommunications to obtain an even more positive change in the safety of vulnerable road users.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1109/CogInfoCom.2015.7390634

Evaluation of Human Behaviour at Pedestrian Crossings

Petra Szakonyi Emese Makó

Publication Name: Transportation Research Procedia

Publication Date: 2016-01-01

Volume: 14

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 2121-2128

Description:

Road traffic crashes result from a combination of factors related to the road layout, the vehicles, the road users and the way they interact. First the main causes of pedestrian fatalities and the safety effects of road measures (traffic lights, roundabouts and refuge islands) at pedestrian crossings before and after implementation were investigated. The results indicate that there is a strong evidence for the positive effect of these measures especially on the number of the pedestrian related accidents. In the next phase a site survey was conducted in order to estimate the irregular crossing manoeuvres of car drivers and pedestrians at designated pedestrian crossings. Having analysed the irregular movements according to the type of crossing it was found, that car drivers behave the most irregularly at crossings without a refuge island. Crossings equipped with flashing yellow lights, refuge islands and traffic lights require a much more appropriate behaviour from car drivers. In the next phase of the research the waiting time of pedestrians and the delay of vehicle drivers again at pedestrian crossings were surveyed. Our results suggest that there is a need for a strong contribution of the human and the engineering fields to obtain an even more positive change in the safety of vulnerable road users.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2016.05.227

Defining Correlation between the Modal Split of Inhabitants and Students and the Location of Housing Areas and Schools with the Analysis of Travel Plans

Petra Szakonyi Emese Makó

Publication Name: Transportation Research Procedia

Publication Date: 2014-01-01

Volume: 4

Issue: Unknown

Page Range: 271-285

Description:

Across the world there is an increasing interest in managing car traffic. One approach developed for addressing the journey to work is known as 'workplace travel planning'. In the recent years the authors participated in two Intelligent Energy Europe projects (Pro.motion and Travel Plan Plus project) which aim was to deliver transport-sector energy savings by creating travel plans. During the development of the projects two local travel plans were worked out, one for the residential area of Ménfocsanak, in the city Gyor, Hungary and one for the elementary educational institutions of Gyor. The main objective of all these studies were to reduce the problems caused by private car users and more over to promote sustainable mobility choices for target groups. The main objective of these studies were to reduce the problems, caused by private car users and more over to promote sustainable mobility choices for target groups. The results of the projects showed us, that travel plans are effective tools in order to solve mobility challenges in a sustainable way and that land-use methods have strong effects on the success of travel plans.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1016/j.trpro.2014.11.021

Evaluation of travel behaviors in order to prepare travel plans for residential areas and schools of gyor

Petra Szakonyi Emese Makó

Publication Name: Pollack Periodica

Publication Date: 2013-12-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 3

Page Range: 69-78

Description:

The municipality of Gyor participated in the last five years in two Intelligent Energy Europe projects (Pro Motion project, Travel Plan plus project), which aim was to deliver transport-sector energy savings by creating a new approach to site-based mobility management across Europe. During the development of the two projects there has been worked out two Local Travel Plans, one for the residential area Menfocsanak, in the city, Gyor and one for the educational institutions of Gyor. The first one is a so called 'area travel plan' and the second one is a so-called 'work travel plan'. The aims of these studies were to reduce CO2 emission caused by private car users and to promote sustainable mobility choices for the residents of the area and for students. In order to solve the future mobility challenges in a sustainable way it is necessary to analyze the existing travel demand and modal-split caused by target groups (residents and students).It is important to develop Local Travel Plans for residential areas and schools, based on quantitative travel behavior data, which can be used for modeling of current and future transport to provide optimized solutions for daily mobility. It is very important to collect data from various sources according to the needed detail of a Travel Plan.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1556/Pollack.8.2013.3.7