An Insurance Institute for Highway Safety review of research on crashes involving pedestrians has identified several traffic engineering countermeasures that can reduce such crashes. Changing signal light timing to give pedestrians exclusive access to intersections reduces crashes by about half. Early release signal timing, which gives pedestrians a head start before the light changes for vehicle traffic, reduces accidents by 95%. Separation of vehicles and pedestrians by space (refuge islands) reduces accidents at wide intersections or intersections where elderly pedestrians cross frequently. Roundabouts have been shown to reduce vehicle-to-vehicle crashes and pedestrian crashes when they replace traffic signals and stop signs. Enhancing roadway lighting improves pedestrian visibility and reduces crashes. Measures that have not been shown to reduce pedestrian crash frequencies include adding crosswalk markings at locations without traffic signals and adding traffic calming measures.
Abstract