Study: Crosswalk Lighting Radically Improves Pedestrian Safety

A new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety emphasizes the importance of crosswalk lighting for pedestrian safety, reports Dan Zukowski in Smart Cities Dive.

The study analyzed four intersections in Kalamazoo, Michigan. “At these intersections, none of which had traffic signals, researchers found that drivers slowed where flashing beacons or any type of lighting were present, but a combination of flashing beacons and crosswalk lighting triggered by the pedestrian resulted in the highest yielding behavior.” At one dimly lit site, flashing beacons and crosswalk lighting made drivers 13 times more likely to yield to pedestrians.

The study highlights how simple, relatively inexpensive fixes can help stem the epidemic of traffic deaths facing most U.S. communities. According to IIHS President David Harkey, “We can stop pedestrians from being killed if we make sure drivers see them — but first city planners and road designers have to see the light.”