Countdown Pedestrian Signals and Low-Vision Pedestrians

The countdown pedestrian signal (CPS) has been shown to be more intuitively understandable than other signals in the way that it communicates the amount of available crossing time at an intersection. The improved comprehension may result in better levels of service to pedestrians at signalized intersections. Survey research has shown that the traditional flashing don’t walk (FDW) signal is poorly understood, with low levels of pedestrian comprehension. By contrast, comprehension of the CPS tends to be much higher: between 86% and 100%. The study reported here examined how well low-vision pedestrians could determine how to respond and when to cross with the use of a CPS alone and with a combination of CPS and FDW at 12-m (40-ft) and 30.5-m (100-ft) crossings. The results showed that low-vision pedestrians often found it difficult to determine the signal phase at a relatively broad crossing, but the removal of the FDW from the display had no negative impact on the decision to cross during the pedestrian clearance phase.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.3141/2492-06
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9780309369183
• Authors:
  • DeLaere Jr, Gregory M
  • Van Houten, Ron
  • Morgan, Justin F
  • Shurbutt, Jim
• Publication Date: 2015

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 57–60
• Monograph Title: Traffic Control Devices
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board
  • Issue Number: 2492
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Comprehension; Level of service; Pedestrian clearance interval (Traffic signals); Pedestrian safety; Pedestrians; Signalized intersections; Traffic signal cycle; Visually impaired persons
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01555484
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 9780309369183
• Report/Paper Numbers: 15-1706
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 27 2015 10:03AM