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.

Imperative Components of Highway Safety Systems

Modern controlled-access roadways, generally known as “interstates” in the US, facilitate the rapid movement of vehicular traffic across great spaces.  They play vital roles both in promoting commerce and increasing mobility for the general public.  Their specialized nature, however, requires that they employ particular highway safety systems to prevent accidents and promote the smooth transit of cars and trucks.  Some of the crucial components of highways are divided lanes, grade separators, and impact barriers.

Divided Lanes

Known as “dual carriageways” in the UK and as “divided highways” in the US, these roads have parallel lanes for traffic moving in opposite directions.  They have a small strip of land in between, known in the United States as a “median.”  They permit drivers to operate their vehicles at higher speeds than would otherwise be safe, by eliminating the need to be aware of traffic coming from the opposing direction.

The number of lanes on each side of the median is determined by density of travel.  In the United States, the minimum number is two on each side, though this increases to three or even more around large urban areas.  Crossing over the median to change directions is normally prohibited.  Drivers rely on exit and entrance ramps instead.

Increases in the number of cross-median accidents in the past several years has led to efforts to supplement medians with crossing obstacles, including median barriers, guard rails, raised earthworks, and trees or large shrubs.  Efforts to beautify medians are common as well.  In the warm months, wildflowers and blooming shrubs make the divider more visually appealing to travelers.

Grade Separators   

A perennial problem in highway construction is that of traffic flowing in opposing directions.  This is especially common around large population centers, where large numbers of vehicles may need to enter or exit the highway throughout the day.  Grade separators solve this problem with the use of bridges, underpasses, and interchanges.  Multiple roadways are divided from each other vertically, with vehicles moving above and beneath each other.  This allows high speed limits to stay in place even in congested areas.

However, grade separators have been criticized for being costly, complex, and dangerously compact.  These highway safety systems are disliked by nearby property owners, who see them as noisy eyesores and blights on their community.

Traffic Barriers

Known as “guard rails” or “crash barriers,” these structures are intended to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway and colliding with elements such as trees, buildings, walls, or storm drains.  They also keep motorists from drifting off the paved surface and into adjoining fields, bodies of water, vertical drops, and construction sites.  To ensure they can do their job, prototypes are extensively tested in real-world crash simulations.

Traffic barriers fall into four general classes:

1. Roadside barriers are used as a buffer between straying vehicles and hazards such as those mentioned above.  They’re commonly installed along curves, beside cliff faces, and along railroad tracks.
2. Median barriers reinforce medians by preventing vehicles from crossing over into opposing traffic lanes.
3. Bridge barriers prevent vehicles from leaving bridges and crashing into whatever is beneath them, such as rivers, other roads, railway lines, etc.  They’re usually made from tubular steel and are built higher than roadside barriers.
4. Work zone barriers direct traffic away from highway work crews and equipment.  They’re normally light, portable, and highly visible structures, intended more to inform drivers than to create physical barriers.

Additional Components of Highway Safety Systems

The following structures and devices are used periodically to promote highway safety:

• Traffic calming measures
• Raised curbs
• Warning lights
• Hazard markers
• Local radio broadcasts that warn motorists of nearby safety threats and/or adverse weather conditions.

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, highway safety systems will play an ever more important role in safeguarding motorists.  Their proper design and construction are high priorities for infrastructure planners and public officials in all developed nations.

Tips For Rail Crossing Safety

Trains strike a person or vehicle in the United States every two hours on the average, and death or severe injury is almost always the result.  Almost all of these incidents could be prevented by obeying basic rules of rail crossing safety, which include the following:

1. Never assume that trains pass by a crossing only at certain times of day.  Rail freight often ships on irregular schedules, making any time of day “train time.”
2. Slow down when nearing a crossing and look both ways.  Then do so again.
3. Never, ever try to “beat the train” to the crossing spot.  An oncoming train often causes an optical illusion, which makes it appear to be slower and further away than it actually is.
4. Do not cross channelizing devices intended to prevent motorists from crossing lanes and going around gate arms.
5. Never pass another vehicle when your car or truck is within 100 feet of a crossing.
6. Some vehicles must always stop at railroad crossings, such as school buses or trucks loaded with hazardous materials.  Be on the alert for them and be prepared to stop if one is ahead of you.
7. Noise in your vehicle can mask the sound of a train whistle.  Because of this, you should always turn off your radio and climate control when at a crossing.  Also, cell phones should never be used near such spots to ensure rail crossing safety.
8. Flashing lights, cross-bucks  stop signs, closing gates, and train whistles should always be obeyed.  If you see or hear any of these warning signs, stop at the crossing and don’t proceed until the train has passed.
9. Don’t shift gears while driving over railroad tracks.  Downshifting before reaching the crossing is highly recommended.
10. If you do stop for an approaching train, make sure you maintain at least a 15-foot distance from the tracks.  Remember that trains overhang tracks, sometimes by several feet.
11. Avoid using the crossing at all if you think that your vehicle may not have sufficient clearance to clear the tracks without problems.  This is especially important for people crossing tracks while using motorized wheelchairs.
12. Only cross tracks at a designated crossing spot.
13. Never use tracks as a walking path or shortcut.  Children should be taught to never play on or near the tracks.  Fishing from railroad trestles is extremely dangerous and should never be attempted.
14. If a crossing gate closes in front of you as you’re crossing the tracks, then go around it if you can.  If you can’t, then drive forward fast enough to break it.  The important thing is to get off the tracks immediately, whether or not you think a train is approaching. 
15. A gate closing in front of a vehicle is most likely a sign of a malfunction.  Get to a phone and call local emergency responders right away, so that repairs can be made as soon as possible. 

What to Do if Your Vehicle Stalls on the Tracks

GET OUT.  Exit the vehicle immediately and move as far from the tracks as you can.  If a train isn’t approaching, then call local emergency responders as soon as possible.  Be prepared to tell them exactly where your vehicle is located.

 If a train is in sight, then move TOWARDS it, away from its direction of travel.  This will minimize your risk of injury, in the event of a derailment or debris being scattered by the impact.

Gambling with rail crossing safety is never a good bet.  It’s better to be a few minutes late to your destination than to never get there at all.  Practicing train safety will protect you as well as other motorists, and help to ensure that everyone gets where they’re going alive and well.

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.

Platform Safety: It’s Not Just for Them

A common denominator across virtually every large urban area on the globe is the use of mass transit trains.  This form of transportation has brought unparalleled levels of mobility and opportunity to hundreds of millions of people worldwide.  However, it has also brought the challenge of ensuring platform safety to the forefront of public discussion in many areas.

As with most public protection issues, the discussion tends to center around costs vs. expected benefits.  For example, in New York City, there’s currently an ongoing debate over whether the Metro Transit Authority (MTA) should erect platform safety devices (PSDs) in its subways.

On one side are those concerned around the city’s budget, which has been stretched almost to the breaking point due to the economic crisis of the past few years.  On the other are public safety advocates, who point out the following grim statistics:

• Each year since 2001, over 100 persons have been struck by NYC trains.
• A significant percentage of those accidents resulted in fatalities.  For example, in 2012, 55 people died when they were hit by city trains.  In 2011, 47 died, and in 2010, 51 died.
• Measures such as erecting PSDs are proven to reduce platform accidents in every city in which they’re tried.

The Larger Issues

While the numbers of subway accidents are few when compared to, say, traffic wrecks, platform safety is nonetheless an issue that requires attention in every city with a mass transit system.  While opinions vary, there are steps that can be taken immediately to enhance public safety on train and subway platforms.  These include:

• Increased visibility of safety signage.
• Public awareness campaigns, involving coordinated efforts among both public agencies and private groups.
• High-level discussions of the issues surrounding platform safety, including strategies for mitigating the costs involved in erecting PSDs and similar measures.

As with any positive societal change, the movement towards enhancing platform safety begins with raising public awareness.  Only after that can constructive steps be taken.

How Flexible Delineators Cut Costs

Delineators play a major role in ensuring traffic safety, by alerting motorists to changing road conditions and enhancing visibility at night.  However, one of their key limitations has been their limited visibility, due to the placement within the road surface itself.  Flexible delineators solve this problem by rising vertically from the streets, gaining the attention of drivers who might otherwise never see them.  At the same time, their flexible construction avoids the sort of problems traditionally seen with rigid structures such as permanent bollards.

Delineators: Their Design and Purpose
The goal of delineators is summed up in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) thus:

Delineators are particularly beneficial at locations where the alignment might be confusing or unexpected, such as at lane reduction transitions and curves. Delineators are effective guidance devices at night and during adverse weather. An important advantage of delineators in certain locations is that they remain visible when the roadway is wet or snow covered.  Delineators are considered guidance devices rather than warning devices.

Delineators, then, serve the same purpose as lighthouses along the shore once did.  They warn those in the immediate area about potential hazards.  Because of this, they must be as visible as it is reasonably possible to make them, without posing a collision hazard to passing vehicles.  Flexible delineators fulfill both these requirements, and benefit municipalities and traffic safety departments in the following ways:

• By withstanding impacts from vehicles without damage, due to their flexible construction.
• By not causing damage to cars or trucks that strike them, saving on the costs associated with automotive accidents by preventing their occurrence in the first place.
• By their enhanced visibility as opposed to traditional channelizers.  This makes them more effective at their central purpose, which is to help motorists avoid hazardous situations.

 

As vehicular traffic becomes more congested worldwide, flexible delineators will play an ever-increasing role in preventing accidents and enhancing public safety.