Research

In the context of my dissertation, I am investigating how traffic behaviour and, as a result, traffic safety at crosswalks differs in different countries. Although it would be interesting to analyse all European countries, this is not feasible. Therefore I decided to focus on three countries around the Baltic Sea: Germany, Poland and Latvia. Previous work in the context of the dissertation has shown that traffic safety at crosswalks differs greatly between these European countries.

The research hypothesis is that there is a cultural influence on the behaviour of traffic participants at pedestrian crossings. So, even the same safe crossing might work differently in different countries. This places my research at the intersection of traffic safety engineering and cultural studies.

My planned main method will be behavioural observations of selected, comparable crosswalks in the four countries. The results of the observations regarding the behaviour of motorists and pedestrians will then be matched with findings of the prevailing Traffic Safety Culture in the selected countries. Currently, I am in the process of selecting comparable locations in the four countries and to test my methodology.  Main observations will start in autumn 2022.

Below you find more detailed information on different parts of my project.