Effects of Blind Pedestrians on Motorists

Abstract

Factors that influenced 187 Canadian motorists to stop or not stop when blind pedestrians started to cross a busy city street were investigated. The motorists were significantly more likely to stop for a blind pedestrian than for a sighted pedestrian. This finding is consistent with the norm of social responsibility. However, the impact of this norm was dampened by the possible costs entailed in stopping, such as the risk to the blind pedestrian of crossing when other motorists had failed to see him or were unwilling to stop. These perceived costs, tending to decrease motorist helpfulness, were reduced by the addition of a sighted companion. The motorists were also more likely to stop for pairs of pedestrians than for single pedestrians.