Distracted Walking and Signal Violation Behavior at Urban Signalized Intersections: Evidence from a Mid-Sized Indian City

Pedestrian non-compliance at signalized intersections remains a persistent safety concern, particularly in developing urban environments where rapid motorization and mixed traffic conditions influence road user behaviour. While infrastructure-related factors have been widely examined, limited attention has been given to behavioural determinants underlying distracted walking and signal violation decisions. This study investigates pedestrian crossing behaviour using questionnaire survey data collected from 462 pedestrians at selected urban signalized intersections in a mid-sized Indian city. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were applied to examine associations between pedestrian characteristics and violation tendencies. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify underlying behavioural constructs influencing unsafe crossing decisions. The results indicate that mobile phone use, perceived time pressure, and reduced risk perception are significantly associated with signal violation behaviour. Factor analysis reveals latent behavioural dimensions linked to distraction, situational urgency, and compliance attitudes. The findings contribute to traffic psychology literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing country context and offer insights for behaviour-oriented pedestrian safety interventions.