Parking Lot Pedestrian Safety during Large Events

Parking lot pedestrian safety is always a priority for traffic workers, but it takes on a special urgency during major events.  During such times, the likelihood of accidents is greatly enhanced due to crowded conditions, larger numbers of motorized vehicles, and (in some cases) the heightened presence of alcohol and even illicit drugs.

Adding to the risks inherent in any large gathering is the fact that many law enforcement agencies are relatively inexperienced when it comes to crowd control.  This is especially true in rural areas, where low population densities are the norm except for a few days or weeks out of the year.  For example, a farming community in the American heartland may get by just fine most of the time with a police force consisting of five or six officers.  During the annual 4th of July fireworks display or county fair, however, these resources can be severely taxed, forcing local officials to rely on volunteers with limited training and narrow skill sets.

Another complicating factor is the fact that, during major events, crowd sizes may force locals to use areas for parking that were never intended for that purpose, such as open, grassy areas or even the yards of private homes.  Confusion over who has authority in such situations can lead to confrontations between officials and irate citizens and other potentially dangerous situations.

Solutions to Parking Lot Safety Issues

The key to avoiding these kinds of problems is foresight.  Almost all major events are known about well beforehand, giving officials ample time to prepare for them.  Such preparation should always include the following steps:

1. Determining approximate crowd sizes.  This can be based on a variety of metrics, such as population density, the number of attendees at past events, or even such data as ticket sales or public surveys.  Of course, a safety margin must be built into these estimates.  A good rule of thumb is to allow for a 20% margin of error.  For example, if a concert is expected to draw 10,000 people, preparations should be made to handle a crowd of 12,000.
    
2. Officials should confer with property owners to ensure that they are aware of how many vehicles can be parked in an area of a given size.  Supervisors of these areas should receive basic instruction in fire safety, crowd control, and how to respond to angry or irate persons.  They should also know how and when to contact emergency responders.
    
3. Points of entry for vehicles as well as pedestrian crossing zones should be amply and conspicuously marked, using parking lot signage, access barriers, and other crowd control devices that comply with MUTCD regulations.  If a community doesn’t possess such resources, then appeals should be made to neighboring towns and cities, or to state of federal agencies, to borrow them until the event is over.
    
4. Law enforcement officers and other official personnel should be highly visible, both in parking lots as well as established zones throughout the event.  If budgetary restraints limit the number of trained emergency responders available, then volunteers may be used, but only after appropriate screening and training measures.
    
5. Alcohol is almost always a key factor in public altercations.  However, its sale and/or possession may be necessary for the commercial success of the event.  At the very least, its consumption should be limited to clearly marked areas, and never be permitted in parking lots.
    
6. One way to enhance everyone’s enjoyment of the event is to print up flyers advising attendees of where law enforcement officers, medical workers, and other emergency personnel stations are set up.  These pamphlets may also include some basic safety tips, such as being on the lookout for pickpockets and not displaying valuables or large amounts of cash.  They can be given to pedestrians as they exit the parking areas on their way to the event.
    
7. Some large events are likely to inflame passions and draw protests.  Examples include political gatherings and performances by controversial artists or musicians.  During such times, law enforcement officers, private security guards, and on-hand volunteers must be alert for signs of trouble and able to summon reinforcements on a moment’s notice.

Parking lot pedestrian safety is an important part of ensuring public welfare during large events.  With foresight and adherence to best practices, most accidents and other negative events can be prevented, enhancing everyone’s enjoyment of the proceedings.

Increasing Visibility of Pedestrian Signs

Pedestrian signs play an invaluable role in enhancing public safety.  However, in these days of urban congestion and distracted driving, Motorists sometimes fail to notice them until it’s too late.  To enhance their prominence, there are a number of ways to improve pedestrian sign visibility.  These include:

1. Overhead signs.  These are especially helpful in areas where there are visual obstacles such as trees, on-street parking, hills, or other obstructions.  The 2009 MUTCD added an option for city planners to use the schoolchildren logo instead of the standard pedestrian symbol.
2. In-Street Pedestrian Signs.  These signs, used at un-signalized crosswalks, raise driver awareness of pedestrian crossings.   In-Street pedestrian signs have been shown to increase the incidence of yielding by as much at 46%, as well as significantly increase stopping distance from the crosswalk.
3. Flashing beacons.  These are especially helpful in raising driver awareness in rural areas, though they seem to have limited effectiveness in urban locales.  In some places, the beacons are tied into a timing mechanism which activates them at certain points during the day.  In others, they’re activated by push-button devices or by detectors that sense when a pedestrian starts to cross the street.
4. Rectangular red flashing beacons (RRFBs).  These are especially helpful at uncontrolled crossings.  As a vehicle approaches, they begin to flash a warning light, advising drivers that they are nearing a crosswalk.  Studies indicate that RRFBs increase the rate at which motorists yield by more than 400% in some locations.  They can be installed on both the left and right sides of a crossing area, or, if possible, in the median itself.  Installing them requires permission from the FHWA.
5. In-pavement flashers.  These are flashing lights embedded directly into the crosswalk.  They’re activated either by a push-button or by motion sensors.  The 2009 MUTCD permits them at uncontrolled crossings.  However, they’re not currently allowed at spots already controlled by traffic signals or by YIELD or STOP signs.  In-pavement flashers are cost-prohibitive for many local governments to install, and should only be used if less costly measures are likely to be ineffective.

However it’s done, improving the visibility of pedestrian signs is essential to ensuring the safety of the public, both pedestrians and motorists alike.

The Purpose of the In-Street Pedestrian Crosswalk Sign

In-Street Pedestrian Sign

Highway engineers and city planners are facing increasing challenges as America’s urban areas increase in population and overall size.  When combined with problems such as distracted drivers and congested roadways, it’s little surprise that annual pedestrian fatalities are on the rise.  To combat this trend, the 2009 MUTCD authorized the use of several high-visibility traffic control measures.  One of these is the in-street pedestrian crosswalk sign.

These markers are used at pedestrian crossings that do not currently have signalized devices.  They should be located either in the street itself or on a median.  They fall into two major groupings:

1. Permanent in-street pedestrian crosswalk signs are installed in the roadway using concrete foundations and are never intended to be moved.  They’re appropriate where pedestrian traffic is likely during both daytime and evening hours.
2. Portable in-street pedestrian crosswalk signs are used in locations where foot traffic is highest at particular times of the day.  These signs are most commonly used at school crossing locations, along with the presence of a school official or police crossing guard.  They may also be used outside of large office complexes or industrial facilities.

In-street signs are used as both traffic calming and visibility-enhancing measures.  When their primary intent is to slow vehicles, they function as YIELD signs.  On the other hand, in areas where pedestrian traffic is heavier, they play the role of a STOP sign.  However, these signs have limited benefits when used in multi-lane or high-speed environments.  They are easily damaged by vehicles driven by impaired or careless motorists.  Also, they must be carefully placed so as not to interfere with the pedestrian’s path of travel.

However, their limitations are more than overcome by the contribution they make to accident prevention.  Studies show that they are particularly effective on low-speed, two-lane streets, such as those typically found in residential areas.  Additionally, in-street pedestrians signs have been show to both increase the incidence of yielding as well as increase the stopping distance from the crosswalk.  Used in appropriate locations, an in-street pedestrian crosswalk sign plays a vital role in promoting public safety.

The Risks of Not Using an In-Street Pedestrian Crosswalk Sign

There’s a popular saying among those concerned with promoting public safety: “speed kills.”  It refers to the fact that the injuries associated with motor vehicle accidents are directly related to the speed of the vehicles involved.  However, not all accidents occur on multi-lane highways or in high-speed areas.  Each year, hundreds of pedestrians are hurt or killed on low-speed, two-lane roads.  It’s in such areas that an in-street pedestrian crosswalk sign can be particularly helpful.

Distracted Driving is on the Rise

Studies show that 3331 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted river in 2011 alone.  Another 387,000 were injured in such wrecks.  Also, while the term “distracted driving” is usually associated with cell phone use, it actually refers to a number of activities drivers perform while behind the wheel.  These include, but are not limited to:

• Eating or drinking
• Talking to others in the vehicle
• Grooming themselves
• Reading
• Looking at maps
• Using a navigational device such as a GPS system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio or climate control lever or knob

Many of the accidents that involve distracted drivers occur in places normally considered safe for pedestrians, such as areas with low speed limits and two-lane roads.  Part of the reason for this is that both motorists and pedestrians are often less aware of their surroundings in such places, as they are not generally associated with hazardous driving conditions.

The Solution: an In-Street Pedestrian Crosswalk Sign

Studies show that an in-street pedestrian crosswalk sign is especially effective in these areas.  It can greatly enhance the visibility of pedestrian crosswalks, while having a calming influence on local traffic patterns.  Because of this, they play a vital supplementary role to other, more well-known safety measures, such as overhead signs, flashing beacons, and median strips.  Their use should be encouraged as part of any well-thought out plan to enhancing public safety.