高齡社會友善行人號誌設計之研究

Designing User-friendly Traffic Signals for Pedestrians in an Aged Society

臺灣於2018年已成為高齡社會，許多高齡者是以步行方式外出活動，然而現有號誌化路口的環境中，高齡者穿越路口常有安全疑慮，如：高齡者是在綠燈時相進入路口，但卻身陷車陣中，無法於燈號轉換為紅燈前通過路口，此一情況增加了發生交通事故的風險。本研究實地調查使用不同步行輔具之高齡者的步行速率，以高齡者安全穿越路口為時制設計之考量，諸如：不會身陷車陣中，提出高齡社會行人號誌時制之安全設計構想。本研究建議大約以使用手杖或雨傘之高齡者的第10百分位步速（約0.65公尺／秒）設計交通號誌之綠燈時相時間，另設計橘色燈和閃橘燈取代小綠人快跑之閃綠燈，讓高齡者可更明確判斷是否能進入並穿越道路。

Taiwan has been an aged society in 2018, and numerous older adults go out for outdoor activities by walking. However, as for the existing traffic environment at signalized intersections, older adults often have safety concerns when crossing the road. For example, if older adults enter the crosswalk during the last few seconds of the green phase, they will be trapped in the traffic and will be unable to cross the road before the green light changes to red. This problem increases the risk of accidents occurring. This study conducted a field survey to investigate the walking speeds of senior citizens by using various walking aids. Concerning the safety of older adults for crossing at intersection (e.g. not be trapped in the vehicle traffic), this study proposes a new safety design concept for pedestrian traffic signals. This study suggests that about the 10th walking speed (about 0.65 m/s) of the elderly with a cane or umbrella be used when determining the duration of green lights. In addition, the orange light and flashing orange light are designed to replace the flashing green light with a small green man running. When the orange light is on, it means that older adults should not enter the intersection since they may not have sufficient time to cross. As a result, older adults can more clearly judge whether they could enter and cross the road.