Pedestrian signals in Australia indicate the pedestrian clearance interval by means of a flashing red signal. Road authorities often receive complaints from pedestrians that the green period is too short and the flashing red signal commences before they have completed crossing the road. This complaint indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the flashing red signal. In an attempt to improve comprehension of the clearance signal, Main Roads Western Australia conducted a trial of a steady yellow clearance signal at four sites in metropolitan Perth. Interviews with crossing users showed that the yellow clearance signal was better understood than the conventional flashing red clearance signal from clearance signal from the point of view of pedestrians part way across the road. The interviews also revealed an increase in the number of pedestrians who believed they were permitted to commence to cross during the clearance interval, but observation of pedestrian behaviour showed that this did not result in an increase in the number of pedestrians commencing to cross during the clearance interval at any of the four trial sites. (A)
Abstract