Are pedestrian signals a guarantee of safety?

Pedestrian signals are special types of traffic signal indications installed for the exclusive purpose of controlling pedestrian traffic. They are installed at signalized intersections when engineering analysis shows that the vehicular signals cannot adequately accommodate the pedestrians using the intersection. Pedestrian signals have evolved over the years and are now effective, sophisticated traffic controls. Unfortunately, their necessary sophistication has resulted in common misconceptions being held by the very people they are designed to serve - the pedestrian! The following discussion tells when pedestrian signals are normally installed, what the indications mean, and addresses common misconceptions about pedestrian signals .

WHEN ARE PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS USED?
Pedestrian signals are installed for a variety of reasons. Frequently they are installed:

· When the layout of an intersection is such that vehicular indications are not visible to pedestrians.

· If pedestrian volumes are very heavy, as in a central business district.

· When the traffic movements at an intersection are so complex that special efforts have to be made to communicate with pedestrians.

· If a special pedestrian path has to be defined across a complex intersection.

· If pedestrians have to be given exclusive use of an intersection in the interest of safety.

WHAT DO THE INDICATIONS MEAN?
Pedestrian signals consist of the illuminated words WALK and DON'T WALK, or the illuminated symbols of a walking person and an upraised hand.
The meanings of the indications are as follows:

· A steady, illuminated WALK display, or a steady illuminated symbol of a walking person, means that a pedestrian may enter the roadway and proceed in the direction of the indication.

· A flashing, illuminated DON'T WALK display, or a flashing illuminated symbol of an upraised hand, means that a pedestrian may not start to cross the roadway in the direction of the indication, but that any pedestrian already in the roadway may continue crossing.

· A steady, illuminated DON'T WALK display, or a steady illuminated symbol of an upraised hand, means that a pedestrian cannot legally enter the roadway.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
The most common misconceptions about pedestrian signals and pedestrian detectors include:

1. The erroneous belief that the WALK indication should be displayed for the entire time required to cross the street. The critical requirement in pedestrian signal timing is that opposing vehicles not be permitted to go before all pedestrians who have entered the roadway on the steady WALK interval have had adequate time to complete their crossings. The pedestrian protection does not terminate for pedestrians already in the roadway when the steady WALK ends and the flashing DON'T WALK begins. Complete protection exists for any pedestrian who begins to cross the roadway during any part of the steady WALK interval, even if most of the actual crossing takes place during the flashing DON'T WALK interval. Essentially the steady WALK indication informs pedestrians that they may begin to cross the roadway. The flashing DON'T WALK provides protection for pedestrians who began their crossing during the WALK interval and prevents late arrivals at the intersection from beginning to cross.

2. The mistaken belief that available pedestrian detectors don't have to be pushed to gain access to the roadway. Some pedestrians fail to push available detector buttons and instead proceed to cross by observing the vehicle indications rather than the pedestrian indications. Since vehicles normally move faster than pedestrians, the green time needed to cross the intersection is less for a vehicle than for a pedestrian. If the detector is not used, the pedestrian indication remains at steady DON'T WALK, and the green time given by the vehicular signal is not always sufficient to permit a pedestrian to completely cross the roadway.

PEDESTRIAN RESPONSIBILITIES
Pedestrian signals assign right-of-way to pedestrians, in much the same way as vehicular signals do for vehicular traffic. However, they are no guarantee of safety. Pedestrians still have to exercise sound judgment and remain alert when crossing a roadway. The following suggestions are offered in the interest of safety:

1. Before crossing a signalized intersection, ALWAYS push the pedestrian detector if one is present. This will guarantee adequate crossing time.

2. If no pedestrian signal is present, push the pedestrian detector if one is available, and ALWAYS cross as soon as the vehicular signal turns green. This will insure that adequate crossing time will be available. Pushing the detector when the signal is already green will not cause the green time to be extended during that particular green interval. The next green interval will, however, be extended. If the green signal has been on for any length of time prior to your arrival, be very cautious about entering the roadway - the vehicular signal could be ready to turn and you could be trapped out in the roadway when it changes!

3. When full pedestrian signalization is present, push the pedestrian detector and cross when the pedestrian indication turns to WALK. Don't panic when the indication turns to flashing DON'T WALK - there is still adequate time to finish crossing before opposing traffic is released.

4. Whenever crossing a roadway, regardless of the presence or absence of pedestrian controls, minimize the time you spend in the roadway - DON'T SAUNTER!

5. ALWAYS be attentive and watch for possible vehicular traffic turning across your path. By law, vehicles have to yield to pedestrians lawfully within the intersection.
Cross Intersections Defensively!

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