Skip to Main Content
Pedestrians in a crosswalk near South Station in Boston.A woman in a wheelchair and her service dog traveling on a city sidewalk.Cars traveling around a rotary/roundabout.People sitting at an outdoor café on Newbury Street in Boston.A wheelchair user boarding a trolley in Portland, Oregon.A woman and her service dog at a crosswalk with detectable warnings in San Francisco.

Home | Project Report | Essential Federal Resources | Literature Review

Making Crosswalks Safer for Pedestrians: Application of a Mulitdisciplinary Approach to Improve Pedestrian Safety at Crosswalks in St. Petersburg, Florida

Author(s):

Turner et al.

Organization:

Center for Urban Transportation Research, College of Engineering, University of South Florida

Publisher/Date:

Center for Urban Transportation Research, College of Engineering, University of South Florida, 2000

Rating:

Limited Usefulness

Abstract:

Making Crosswalks Safer for Pedestrians is a study to determine if several intervention practices could reduce the number of pedestrian/vehicle accidents in crosswalks in the City of St. Petersburg, Florida. Both signalized and unsignalized crosswalks were studied. Three separate intervention strategies were studied -- education of motorist and pedestrians, enforcement, and engineering changes. Only the latter gave conclusive results, although to the extent studied, both additional enforcement and education showed promise.

The best results came from using multiple engineering interventions. Of the 8 types of engineering interventions studied, using advanced stop signs, motorist and pedestrian prompt signs, and lead pedestrian intervals proved the most efficacious.

This study should be of prime interest to municipal transportation departments, particularly when seeking ways to intervene at intersections with high crash rates. But in addition, planners and advocates can use this study for implementing strategies where dangerous situations are anticipated.

Number of Pages:

53

Table of Contents?

Yes

Index?

No

Illustrations?

Yes (Charts, Photographs)

Material Type:

Journal Article

Notes:

prepared for Florida Department of Transportation

Key Document?

Categories:

Educational Materials & Research; Advocacy & Planning, Educational

Keywords:

Crosswalks, Pedestrian Safety

Strengths:

  • Removes the guesswork about the efficacy of engineering interventions at crosswalks.
  • Makes design suggestions and gives the rationale behind the suggestion.

Weaknesses:

  • The effectiveness of education and enforcement as intervention methods for improving safety in crosswalks was not statistically prove.
  • The study took place in Florida where the rate of pedestrian crashes is twice the national average.

Record Last Updated:

July 2006

Top

[ Back to Previous Page ]

Home | Project Report | Essential Federal Resources | Literature Review