Table 2 Recommendations to improve pedestrian safety, by the three E’s (Education, Engineering, Enforcement)
From: Investigating and improving pedestrian safety in an urban environment
Education | • During new student orientation, as part of one of the mandatory sessions, include sessions on pedestrian safety. |
• Include additional information on pedestrian safety during the police walks that occur for all freshmen that opt to do this. | |
• Develop a communications campaign on pedestrian risks to improve awareness and knowledge about how to travel safely as a pedestrian. | |
• Obtain and utilize input from students to plan all educational and communication messages and materials. | |
Enforcement | • Utilize crossing guards at high traffic intersections. |
• Increase traffic law enforcement, especially at the beginning of the school year. | |
• Encourage law enforcement to ticket pedestrians for jaywalking, which could initially be giving out warnings, but with the potential for tickets with a fine. | |
• Install speed cameras to help slow down the traffic. Direct observations noted that many vehicles traveled at speeds in excess of posted speed limits. | |
• Install red light cameras. A review of the crash reports noted instances when vehicles were making illegal turns. | |
Engineering | • Add in-street pedestrian crossing signs to remind drivers to stop for pedestrians. |
• Post additional speed signage for vehicles. Currently few signs are located on high-traffic roads. | |
• Changes to traffic light and walk sign synchronization (i.e., so pedestrians can’t be struck by turning traffic), especially for those turning. Consider installing a delay for cars to allow pedestrians to safely cross before the vehicle. | |
• Reduce wait time at lights (consider having push buttons that pedestrians can activate to request the walk signal) | |
• Having lights with the countdown function that lasts for the duration of the pedestrian crossing, for instance, count down the full 60 seconds that pedestrians have to cross, may be a better technology to implement at various crosswalks. | |
• Consider installing speed humps or other traffic calming devices at various locations to slow traffic. |