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Pedestrian Safety

New technology and some good old-fashioned advice

Walking can be dangerous to your health, particularly in a U.S. city. In 2001 there were 4,882 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents and nearly 70 percent of those fatalities happened in urban areas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 40 percent of motor vehicle crashes occur at intersections or are intersection related. Intersections represent a tiny percent of the 3.94 million miles of roads and streets in the U.S., yet they're the most dangerous miles for both pedestrians and motorists. In urban areas, 50 percent of all crashes occur at intersections, according to Federal Highway Administration statistics. Traffic safety engineers and planners are focusing on intersection design to make them safer for both pedestrians and motorists, and automakers are looking at ways to make vehicles less deadly and more "intelligently" aware of pedestrians.

Problems

Crosswalks are intended to protect pedestrians, but there is a debate among traffic engineers about whether they really work. Traditional pavement markings used to designate crosswalks are very obvious to approaching and crossing pedestrians but can be difficult to detect by a moving motorist, particularly in low-visibility conditions such as darkness or dense fog. Detecting a pedestrian preparing to cross the street can also be difficult for motorists in locations with obstructions, such as parked vehicles, that block the motorist's view.

The Harborview Prevention and Injury Research Center in Seattle, Washington studied 283 accidents involving elderly pedestrians in six Western cities. They found that crosswalks were safer where there was a traffic light or a stop sign. But, where the crosswalk was only a series of zebra stripes, elderly pedestrians were 3.5 times more likely to be hit. A fifth of all pedestrian accidents involve elderly who tend to walk more slowly and are less able to get out of the way of a speeding car. And, if they get hit, they are more likely to die.

The problem seems to be that pedestrians see the clearly marked crosswalk and assume motorists can see them and that they will stop. This perception is dangerously inappropriate because some motorists don't even stop for a red light. Static signs on the roadway don't help because many of our intersections are cluttered with signage, and static signs can't indicate that a pedestrian is actually present at the crosswalk. There are a number of solutions to pedestrian fatalities being tried throughout the country. Many of them attempt to make the pedestrian more visible to oncoming traffic, some are high tech but others are low cost, low tech solutions.

Solutions

In some cities, including Salt Lake City during the last winter Olympics, tall, bright orange flags are stored in a curbside container at pedestrian crosswalks. Pedestrians can take the flag and wave it when crossing the street then deposit in a container on the other side. Vehicles in lanes where sight is blocked by a stopped vehicle can readily see the flags and know the other vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. One small town in Maryland is relying on hometown art to slow the traffic through their neighborhoods. A stick figure with an upraised, white-gloved hand, is one of 19 artworks that Hyattstown, MD citizens placed along a busy road in hopes of catching motorists' attention and slowing them down as they pass through the tiny town of 65 residents. The sculptures along the 1/3-mile stretch include an enormous set of wind chimes, and six brightly colored pinwheels. The display changes periodically.

Other solutions are a high tech or "intelligent" take on the familiar zebra stripes. Embedded sensors in the crosswalk detect the presence of a pedestrian and activate amber colored LED lights embedded in the crosswalk which begin to blink and alert drivers that a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. The lights are angled to make them more visible to the motorist than to the pedestrian, in order to keep the pedestrian focused on the traffic and not the lights. The detectors function by sensing changes in thermal radiation or movement within their field of view. A pedestrian entering the target area causes such a temperature change to occur, which in turn is detected by the sensor.

Some cities are hanging highly visible signs over the roadway with graphic depictions of pedestrians. The signs light up when pedestrians are sensed in the crosswalks, and can be seen far down the road by motorists. Other sensors at traffic lights can time the passage of elderly pedestrians and add more time to the traffic light to accommodate their slower pace. Some traffic lights feature signs that count down the time remaining for a walk-light in order to nudge pedestrians into hurrying their pace or waiting for the next light.

Automakers are also looking at ways to alert motorists to the presence of a pedestrian in their path. Nissan is working with OPTIMUS Corporation on a Pedestrian Alert system (PAS) which utilizes Global Positioning Satellite technology. The PAS system includes both a pedestrian and vehicle module with a GPS receiver and radio transmitter. Pedestrians wearing a watch-like device send out a signal to the Infiniti Q45 used in the study providing a minimum of three seconds' warning with a visual or audible signal. A participating driver could track 40 or more pedestrians at a time with the system, the company says. The system is particularly aimed at highway workers, children, elderly and the disabled—particularly those with visual impairments.

At the 2003 SAE World Congress, European automakers were showing off bumpers with airbags and impact-absorbing vehicle hoods designed to minimize injuries to pedestrians involved in car crashes. Part of the impetus behind this research is the fact that European regulators are considering adopting rules that would require new cars to pass crash tests, which simulate head-on collisions with pedestrians. Eventually these technologies should make their way to the United States. As the European automakers develop these technologies they will probably include them on models they sell in North America, and the American automakers that make products for sale in Europe will probably do the same. However, bumpers with airbags won't be on the market anytime soon, and pedestrians and motorists need to try some behavior modification to bring down the high-fatality rates among pedestrians.

Pedestrian Tips

> Watch for drivers making unexpected moves. Assume drivers cannot see you.

> Use the pedestrian lights if the intersection is equipped with them, and always check for traffic before stepping onto the crosswalk or road. Count to three and look around, even if the light says it's your turn to cross.

> If there aren't any pedestrian crossing lights, then wait until it is safe to cross, keep your head up and make eye contact with drivers.

> Watch for green turn arrows and don't cross the street on them. You are cutting motorists off from making their turns.

> Make yourself visible by wearing bright or reflective clothing.

Driver Tips

> Approach intersections with caution. Always be aware of other vehicles and pedestrians even if you have a green light.

> If you are the first car to stop at an intersection, stop behind the line or crosswalk.

> Watch for cyclists and pedestrians at all times, especially when visibility is poor.

> Always use your turn signals well in advance of making any move, so other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians will know what you are doing.

> Use extreme caution when passing a stopped car at an intersection. It might have stopped for a pedestrian.

> Be especially careful with blind pedestrians noticeable by a white cane or guide dog. Sounding your horn will not help them and only confuse them.

> Be especially careful with physically disabled pedestrians and those in wheelchairs.

> Right Turns On Red: Watch for pedestrians and cyclists when making turns.