| Title | The effects of traffic calming measures on pedestrian and motorist behavior |
|---|---|
| Record ID | 11431 |
| Personal Name Creator |
Cynecki, Michael J.; Huang, Herman.F |
| Corporate Contributor |
United States. Federal Highway Administration |
| Publisher | Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center |
| Publication Date | 20010800 |
| Language | English |
| Abstract | Traffic calming treatments may benefit pedestrians who are crossing the street by slowing down vehicle traffic, shortening crossing distances, and enhancing motorist and pedestrian visibility. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of selected traffic calming treatments, at both intersection and mid-block locations, on pedestrian and motorist behavior. Before and after data were collected in Cambridge, MA (bulbouts and raised intersection), Corvallis, OR (pedestrian refuge island), and Seattle, WA (bulbouts). Data were also collected at "treatment" and "control" sites in Durham, NC (raised crosswalks), Greensboro, NC (bulbouts), Montgomery County, MD (raised crosswalks), Richmond, VA (bulbouts), and Sacramento, CA (bulbouts). The key findings include: (1) Overall vehicle speeds were often lower at treatment sites than at control sites. (2) The combination of a raised crosswalk with an overhead flasher increased the percentage of pedestrians for whom motorists yielded. It is not known what part of the improvement was attributable to the raised crosswalk and what part was attributable to the flasher. None of the other treatments had a significant effect on the percentage of pedestrians for whom motorists yielded. (3) The treatments usually did not have a significant effect on average pedestrian waiting time. (4) Refuge islands often served to channelize pedestrians into marked crosswalks. The raised intersection in Cambridge also increased the percentage of pedestrians who crossed in the crosswalk. In conclusion, these devices have the potential for improving the pedestrian environment. However, these devices by themselves do not guarantee that motorists will slow down or yield to pedestrians. |
| Rosap ID | dot:14633 |
| Rosap URL | https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/14633 |
| TRT Terms | Before and after studies; Behavior; Drivers; Pedestrians; Pedestrian safety; Traffic calming; Traffic speed; Waiting time; Traffic control devices |
| Classification | NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Highway Safety; NTL - OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS - Traffic Control Devices |
| Geographical Coverage |
United States |
| TRIS Online Accession No |
00818848 |
| Report Number | FHWA-RD-00-104, ,Research Report |
| Resource type | Tech Report |
| URL | https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/11000/11400/11431/0104.pdf |
| Format | |
| Database | NTL Digital Repository |