Flashing Crosswalks

Flashing Crosswalks

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Article Overview

Flashing crosswalks refers to embedded flashing lights installed in the pavement with uncontrolled but marked crosswalks. These systems were developed in response to a common problem with marked crosswalks, namely the failure of drivers to notice crosswalks ahead, or to detect pedestrians in crosswalks early enough to yield to them. birdrock-roundabout-wheelchair.0.jpg

History

In 1993, after a friend was killed in a Santa Rosa, California, crosswalk, a private citizen who was also a pilot suggested to the city that it embed flashing lights into the pavement, similar to airport embedded runway lights, to alert vehicles when a pedestrian is present. (That citizen went on to found a company manufacturing the lights; other companies make them as well.) The city agreed, and embedded several experimental flashing crosswalks at uncontrolled crosswalk locations (see also Crosswalks, Uncontrolled ). The lights made crosswalks visible to drivers from as far away as 300 feet, and have proven to dramatically increase the yielding rate of vehicles when pedestrians are waiting to cross. These systems have become widely accepted, although some engineering departments still do not use them due to thier cost and some maintenance and reliability problems.

The California Traffic Control Devices Committee allowed the City of Santa Rosa to test the device at several specific locations. In 1994-95, the system was installed at three locations in Santa Rosa and between 1996-97 at locations in the California cities of Fort Bragg, Lafayette, West Hollywood, Willits and Orinda, and two locations in the City of Kirkland, Washington.

Dramatic Effectiveness

A 2003 study of several California and Washington installations showed that drivers yield to a waiting pedestrian 80% more frequently when pavement flashers come on. The study authors also discussed automatic detection of pedestrians vs. activation by push-button. Because not all pedestrians know to push the activation button, the authors recommend automatic detection. The use of a trip beam broken by the pedestrian appeared to be the most effective detection system. [2]

A 2002 study of an installation in New Jersey found that when the flashing lights were added to an uncontrolled but freshly painted crosswalk, vehicles approached the crosswalk at a slower speed and stopped more often for a waiting pedestrian. However, the study also concluded that both drivers and pedestrians need to be educated about appropriate behavior when using a flashing crosswalk.

Growing Pains

The greatest drawbacks to flashing crosswalks is their cost ($20,000 - $50,000 per location), maintenance requirements, poor reliability of some early models, and rapidly changing technology which leads to systems becoming outmoded and replacement parts becoming unavailable. Each of these complaints is typical for a newly developing technology.

Recommendation

Given the alternative – pedestrians remaining vulnerable to drivers who fail to yield to them in crosswalks – and given that systems have improved considerably and are used more widely, flashing crosswalks can be recommended for more widespread use. [1] The devices appear to be most suited for multi-lane roads where pedestrian volume is at least moderate and reasonably expected. They may be most appropriate for undivided roadways in downtown areas, commercial areas, or densely developed areas that lack median refuges for crossing pedestrians, since these roadways are most problematic for crossing safety. The devices do not appear to be as effective at high-speed multi-lane locations, especially where pedestrians are infrequent and rarely expected.

These recommendations are not universal. Pedestrian and bicycle expert Michael Ronkin, previously with the Oregon Department of Transportation, notes that once drivers get used to encountering a particular flashing crosswalk, they are less likely to stop for a pedestrian if for some reason the lights malfunction (personal communication, 2005). This argues that cities must pay close attention to maintenance requirements for flashing crosswalks and learn to anticipate problems before they arise.

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REFERENCES

Each source is referred to by the same number every time it is cited. Please keep citation style consistent.

[1] Miller, Rock, and Dore, George. 2003. Flashing crosswalks - state of the art. 2nd Urban Street Symposium (Anaheim, California). July 2003.

[2] Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, for New Jersey Department of Transportation. 2002. Pedestrian crosswalk safety: evaluating in-pavement flashing warning lights, Troy, NY.

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