Pedestrian fatalities occur for many different reasons, including alcohol or substance abuse, overspeeding, distracted drivers and pedestrians, and lack of infrastructure, among others. It can even occur when pedestrians fail to use pedestrian crossings or pedestrian countdown signals and cross the roads using an unprotected route. We asked Ehline Law’s expert personal injury attorneys located in Los Angeles and their lead counsel, Michael Ehline. He helped explain the differences in layman’s terms with a legal expert’s thoroughness. He has over 15 years as a California lawyer and is also licensed in Texas. So we know his information is trustworthy for our readers. His law firm has been working with injured pedestrians since 2005, protecting their rights and aggressively fighting for the compensation they deserve.
From the cases they’ve worked with, we’ve put together their knowledge in this guide to help you understand the importance of pedestrian crossings and how cities can further improve pedestrian safety.
Explaining Pedestrian Crossing
Just like how roads are areas where motor vehicles can move on, a pedestrian crossing is an area for all foot traffic or pedestrians to walk on. These pedestrian crossings have a purpose which is to ensure the safety of pedestrians and control the flow of traffic. Pedestrian crossings protect the foot traffic, drivers, and riders on the road from getting into an accident.
In the United States, the government introduced pedestrian crossings a long time ago, but the definition of these crossings has substantially evolved over the years.
The Uniform Vehicle Code in 1992 defined a crosswalk as part of sidewalks at an intersection that does not need marking. However, now there is a need for marking and a pedestrian crossing sign to let pedestrians and other road users know of the pedestrian crossing.
Around the world, including in the United States, there are white and black stripes that denote the area of a pedestrian crossing, and you can find them at crosswalks near intersections with lights or even at crosswalks without light signals. Under the law, pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, which has had a mixed impact on safety and traffic accidents over the years.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Although the United States has implemented these regulations and ensured pedestrian crossings for foot traffic, the number of pedestrian deaths continues to rise yearly.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), since 1975, pedestrian fatalities have continued to remain at 17% of all traffic fatalities in the United States. In 2009, there were 4,109 pedestrian deaths, and by 2020, that number rose to 6,516, a 59% increase in the number of pedestrian deaths in the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol was a significant factor in 46% of all pedestrian fatalities in 2019, with one-third or 32% of all pedestrians having a Blood Alcohol Concentration of over 0.08. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one-third of all pedestrian fatalities involve a speeding vehicle.
Some of the vulnerable groups that have a higher risk of pedestrian deaths in the country include the following:
- Adults over the age of 65: Although adults over the age of 65 accounts for 17% of the United States population, they contribute 20% to all pedestrian deaths in the country.
- Children under the age of 15: An estimated 20.4% of pedestrian deaths involved children under the age of 15.
Although older people are less likely to get hit by a motor vehicle than children, they have weak bodies, making them prone to suffering fatal injuries even in minor accidents.
Pedestrian Crossings and Their History
Way before the first country officially introduced pedestrian crossings, relics from 2,000 years ago suggested that pedestrians used raised blocks in the middle of the road in Pompeii for crossing.
Let’s go back to the first country that introduced pedestrian crossing signals to the world, England. In 1868, John Peak, a railway engineer, presented a pedestrian crossing signal in England, with the first one erected on Bridge Street, Westminster, London.
At the time, foot traffic would compete with horses and carriages, and as pedestrians increased, there was an increase in serious injuries and pedestrian fatalities. Peak felt that his ingenuity and design would help provide a safe passage for pedestrians to cross the road without worrying about getting hit by carriages.
The first use of pedestrian crossing with lighted indicators was also introduced in England. A police officer would raise and lower a lever to stop the traffic and let pedestrians pass through safely.
In 1929, traffic authorities decided to designate crosswalks for pedestrians to use. Still, regulations introduced during the same time allowed pedestrians to have the right of way at all times as long as they adhered to the traffic rules. By 1955, lawmakers introduced legislation requiring “walk” and “don’t walk” signals at intersections and crosswalks where there was heavy road traffic and had extra markings and signs to ensure pedestrian safety.
In 1978, new regulations required all motor vehicles to yield to pedestrians on curbs and crosswalks while the pedestrians had a duty to give way to other road users when not in these locations. Such legislation gave importance to all road users and prohibited “jay-walking,” which is unlawfully crossing or walking in the street or road.
The only exception to these right-of-way rules was that both vehicles and pedestrians must yield or give way to emergency vehicles with lights or sirens. By 1994, another amendment to the traffic rules required drivers to grant pedestrians the right of way rather than just yielding.
USA Pedestrian Crossings Explained: Types of Pedestrian Crossings
There are many different pedestrian crossings, but some of the most common ones include the following:
- Informal crossing: As the name suggests, these types of crossing do not prioritize pedestrians or traffic signals. These are widened pavement that slows traffic down so drivers can easily see people waiting to cross. In some informal crossings, there may be pedestrian refuge islands to ensure pedestrian safety, allowing them to cross in two stages.
- Zebra crossing: Also known as a marked crosswalk, it is a pedestrian crossing marked with white stripes. Pedestrians are given priority over vehicular traffic, but this may vary from one state to another.
- Signal-controlled crossing: These types of crossings have a “call” button, which pedestrians can press and wait for the traffic lights to stop vehicular traffic before crossing. They have traffic signals for vehicles and ensure pedestrian safety.
- Multi-user crossing: Also referred to as “toucan crossing,” these crossings are not only used by pedestrians but for cyclists and horse riders.
Design Guidance by Global Designing Cities Initiative: Preventing Pedestrian Fatalities in the USA
Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), the brainchild of the National Association of City Transportation Officials and supported by Bloomberg, is one of the most influential leaders on city streets around the world.
Before building crosswalks, cities should consider the existing pedestrian volume and the projected crossing demand. The following are some design guidelines recommended by the GDCI to reduce pedestrian fatalities and ensure a safer environment for all foot traffic across the United States.
Location
Pedestrians, in most cases, do not comply with three-stage crossings, which is why cities must implement pedestrian crossings at an intersection or mid-block.
Pedestrian crossings must be in places with significant pedestrian traffic, such as in front of public buildings, parks, plazas, and metro stations.
Spacing
Cities should avoid pedestrian crossings at distances over 200m as it can lead to safety and compliance issues. Also, the further away a pedestrian crossing is, the more likely pedestrians will cross the road on an unprotected route, increasing the risk of traffic accidents.
The spacing between pedestrian crossings shouldn’t take pedestrians more than three minutes, meaning cities should provide pedestrian crossings every 80 to 100 m.
Marking
Marking pedestrian crossings with high visibility ladder or zebra markings is of utmost importance as such markings are more visible for road users. Studies have shown that motor vehicle drivers are more likely to yield the right of way when they see such crossings.
Signalization
In areas where vehicles are driving at 30 mph and there are moderate to high pedestrian volumes, cities need to provide signalized crossings to allow pedestrians to pass safely.
Uncontrolled crossings are great for streets where the vehicle speeds are much lower than 30 mph.
Length
Crossing lengths should be as short as possible, and if there are wide roads, cities need to introduce medians and refuge islands where pedestrians can safely stand and continue their crossing once the traffic is clear.
Width
Pedestrian crossings shouldn’t be smaller than the width of the crosswalks it connects to. A general rule for cities is a 3 m pedestrian crossing width.
Visibility
Curb extensions or refuge islands are waiting areas that provide much more visibility for drivers and a safe place for pedestrians to stand.
A curb extension is a traffic-calming measure that widens the sidewalk for short distances. It allows drivers and pedestrians to see each other and reduces walking distances, increasing pedestrian safety in the city.
Additional Safety Measures
Cities should not just rely on pedestrian crossings as a safety measure for pedestrians. Adding or implementing additional safety measures such as signalized intersections, curb extensions, refuge islands, and other traffic calming strategies is essential.
Same Street Level
Crossings should be at the same street level rather than elevated. Pedestrians often underutilize pedestrian overpasses and underpasses as they increase the walking distance and take up considerable sidewalk space. It is also expensive to maintain and remove pedestrians from the natural surveillance of the street, which can lead to safety issues.
How Is the Federal Highway Administration Improving Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety?
Since 2004, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has been working with other relevant departments to improve road safety and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in the United States.
The department is leveraging resources in cities with high bicyclist and pedestrian traffic and implementing safe facility design while collecting and reviewing data on bicyclists and pedestrians crossing roads to develop an action plan.
According to the FHWA, the department reviews and focuses on the collected data every five years.
Personal Measures to Improve Pedestrian Safety
The government’s responsibility is to ensure pedestrian safety by investing in technology and infrastructure that allow pedestrians to cross the roads safely.
However, as individuals, we must also take certain measures to improve pedestrian safety, and these include:
- Wearing reflective clothing at night to increase visibility.
- Only cross streets or roads at designated crosswalks rather than risking taking an unprotective route to save time.
- Walk on sidewalks rather than roads and if there are no sidewalks, walk on the road facing traffic so that you and the oncoming traffic can see each other.
- Avoid using a smartphone or listening to music while walking as they can cause distraction, increasing the risk of an accident.
- If you’ve consumed alcohol, it is best to sit for a while or call for an Uber, Lyft, or a Taxi rather than walk along limited access highways with no pedestrian signals at leading pedestrian intervals to increase pedestrian safety.
Conclusion
We just discussed all the various types of crosswalks. But if you’ve suffered injuries as a pedestrian in an accident, you should consider reaching out to a lawyer for a free consultation to discuss your case, as you may be able to recover compensation, marked crosswalks or not.
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