Comparison of the Effect of In-Crosswalk Traffic Signs on Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety is a significant concern due to the severity of the crashes involving pedestrians. The traffic-related pedestrian fatalities have increased from 13% to 18% of the total fatalities over the past decade, which represents a 77% increase in fatalities. Various engineering traffic control measures and design improvements have been implemented to mitigate the risks. Previous studies have investigated the application of different regulatory traffic signs, but did not make a significant comparison between different sign types in different areas and time settings. In this study, a comparative analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of in-crosswalk traffic signs, such as "YIELD TO PEDESTRIAN" and "STOP FOR PEDESTRIAN", as a potential solution for improving pedestrian safety was conducted. The yielding and vehicle speed were used as safety indicators, and school sessions and time of the day were considered to gauge impacts. Five locations for speeding and four locations for yielding data collection were used. The effect of the traffic signs was tested using an independent t-test at a 95% confidence level. The results show that the change in vehicle speed due to both traffic signs was significant in mornings and afternoons, as well as during and without school sessions. The yielding to pedestrians was improved in the presence of the traffic signs. However, the difference between the impacts of the two traffic signs on speed was not significant, and hence, the signs can be used interchangeably. Findings from this research provide valuable insights for transportation authorities seeking to improve pedestrian safety.