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.