A variety of advisory and regulatory signs are used in conjunction with marked crosswalks to improve their visibility and increase the likelihood that motorists will yield to pedestrians. This paper evaluates three such devices: (1) an overhead CROSSWALK sign in Seattle, Washington; (2) pedestrian safety cones (with the message, "STATE LAW- YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS IN CROSSWALK IN YOUR HALF OF THE ROAD") in New York State and Portland, Oregon; and (3) pedestrian-activated "STOP FOR PEDESTRIAN IN CROSSWALK" overhead signs in Tucson, Arizona. The signs were used under different traffic and roadway conditions. The New York cones and Seattle signs were effective in increasing the number of pedestrians who had the benefit of motorists stopping for them. At one location in Tucson, the overhead sign resulted in increased motorists yielding to pedestrians. The signs in Seattle and Tucson were effective in reducing the number of pedestrians who had to run, hesitate, or abort their crossing. None of the treatments had a clear effect on whether people crossed in the crosswalk. These devices by themselves cannot ensure that motorists will slow down and yield to pedestrians. It is essential to use these devices together with education and enforcement. Traffic engineers can use other measures as well, including designing "friendlier" pedestrian environments at the outset. (Author/publisher)
Abstract