Nearly 70,000 pedestrians were injured and 6,000 killed on U.S. streets in 2017, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). That fatality number represents the highest total in 25 years, and traffic engineers face constant pressure to reduce those numbers. So what are some bona fide methods of preventing fatalities in crosswalks?
1. Speed Bumps
Excessive speed is often cited as a cause for pedestrian deaths. Traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, force drivers to slow down, giving them more time to see and avoid pedestrians.
2. Improved Street Lighting
The GHSA study also reports that 75 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. Common problem areas include stretches of road that transition from residential to rural and vice versa where drivers may be less watchful for foot traffic. The more street lighting at a crosswalk, the safer it will be.
3. Reflective Signage
Drivers can’t heed what they can’t see. Many traffic signs – including speed limit indicators – were made with outdated sheeting that does not maximize reflectivity. By replacing those signs with ones using better sheeting, the improved visibility will increase driver adherence to the speed limit.
Not sure if your signs meet reflectivity standards? A retroreflectometer can help. Check out this insightful article for more information.
4. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB)
A study by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) revealed that RRFBs brought drivers’ yield rate up to 90 percent at pedestrian crossings — a key reason the agency announced MUTCD Interim Approval 21 (IA-21) in 2018. As a result, traffic engineers have been quick to install this proven solution now that it's once again compliant on U.S. roadways.
But be sure your RRFBs meet the minimum requirements laid out in IA-21. Don't want to spend hours combing through specifications? Simply go with TAPCO RRFBs; we meet or exceed all IA-21 requirements.
5. Pedestrian Crosswalk BlinkerSign®
A popular alternative to RRFBs, a TAPCO BlinkerSign® draws the eye by adding flashing LEDs to a traditional sign. According to a 2011 Vermont study, the introduction of a BlinkerSign® system increased the rate at which drivers yielded to pedestrians in an uncontrolled intersection by 23%, accomplishing a total yield rate of 80%.
When it comes to pedestrian safety, you have many options, and TAPCO has many solutions. To view our whole array of products, view our catalog now!
Robert Kurka
TAPCO | Product Manager
With over a decade in business development, marketing and product management, Robert strives to improve transportation safety through innovation.
He is a pedestrian safety solutions expert who especially enjoys working with the TAPCO family to develop lifesaving products and solutions, such as the SafeWalk® Crosswalk Illuminator and the VizMark® Pavement Marking Enhancement.