Pedestrian Crosswalk Case Studies
Richmond, Virginia; Buffalo, New York; Stillwater, Minnesota
Source: Highway Safety Administration
The objective of this research was to determine the effect of crosswalk markings on driver and pedestrian behavior at unsignalized intersections. A before/after evaluation of crosswalk markings was conducted at 11 locations in 4 U.S. cities. Behavior observed included: pedestrian
crossing location, vehicle speeds, driver yielding, and pedestrian crossing behavior. It was found that drivers approach a pedestrian in a crosswalk somewhat slower, and that crosswalk usage increases after markings are installed. No evidence was found indicating that pedestrians are less
vigilant in a marked crosswalk. No changes were found in driver yielding or pedestrian assertiveness. Overall, it appears that marking pedestrian crosswalks at relatively low-speed, lowvolume, unsignalized intersections is a desirable practice, based on the sample of sites used in this study.
