Evaluation of pedestrian traffic safety and level of service on Duhok urban road network

In this study, pedestrian behavior on Duhok City investigated, evaluated, and completely empirically analyzed. The urban study area was divided into CBD and sub-urban areas, ten locations for the former, and other ten locations for the latter given on a city modern GIS map. A lot of data related to pedestrian behavior was compiled by a video filming, Pedestrian behavior was studied and analyzed locations were, Crosswalk parameters included, pedestrian unit flow, space, speed, density, gender……etc. Sidewalk parameters included, walking speed, gender, density, and unit flows… etc. Gap distribution among pedestrians and vehicular traffic is analyzed completely related to acceptance, and rejection with gap size as an independent variable on both CBD, and sub-urban crossings are correlated. Safety was introduced too, by compiling data about traffic conflicts with vehicles. And vehicles spot speed data are correlated with the pedestrian waiting time on curbstone collected from both sides of the crossing streets. Results concluded are mostly related to pedestrian safety found that, in Duhok City sub-urban area, conflict rate/1000 vehicles is best describing the accident behavior with accidents. Gaps accepted, or rejected by pedestrians, are rounding to about (3.0-3.5) sec. on CBD crosswalks, meanwhile the same value is obtained on sub-urban crossing locations. Lags are found to have the same previous values in CBD, and sub-urban crossings sections. A formal solution to select the type of control for each crossing included in this study is proposed for decision makers and future development plans of the Duhok City. Some recommendations are given for further research and development.