Driver Yielding with LED-Embedded Pedestrian- and School-Crossing Signs

A traffic control treatment being used at pedestrian-crossing locations is the pedestrian- or school-crossing warning sign with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) embedded in the borders (called LED-Em in this report). The LED-Em treatment, which includes a pedestrian pushbutton, is pedestrian activated, so the LEDs flashes only when a pedestrian is present. For this research study, researchers considered more than 7,800 drivers involved in more than 3,675 staged pedestrian crossings at 62 sites. The average driver-yielding rates at those sites were analyzed using analysis of covariance models. Logistic regression was also used to evaluate individual driver decisions on whether to yield or not to yield to a pedestrian. These analyses considered both roadway characteristics and traffic control device characteristics. The statistical analyses showed that posted speed limit, vehicle volume at the time of the crossing, crossing distance (roadway width), and the presence of supplemental traffic control devices influenced a driver’s decision to yield to a pedestrian attempting to cross a street when the LED-Em treatment was active. Higher posted speed limits, higher vehicle volumes, and longer crossing distances are associated with low driver yielding.

• Record URL:
  https://highways.dot.gov/sites/fhwa.dot.gov/files/FHWA-HRT-23-038.pdf
• Summary URL:
  https://highways.dot.gov/research/publications/safety/FHWA-HRT-23-038
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/67623
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute

  College Station, TX  United States 

  Federal Highway Administration

  Office of Safety Research and Development
  6300 Georgetown Pike
  McLean, VA  United States  22101-2296
• Authors:
  • Fitzpatrick, Kay
  • 0000-0002-1863-5106
  • Park, Eun Sug
  • 0000-0001-6224-7007
  • Johnson, Neal
  • 0000-0001-9167-9132
  • Falk, Katherine
• Publication Date: 2023-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 40p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crosswalks; Drivers; Light emitting diodes; Pedestrian actuated controllers; School crossings; Warning signs; Yielding
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01884827
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-HRT-23-038
• Contract Numbers: DTFH61-16-D-00039
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 12 2023 9:13AM