Study Highlights Dramatic Impact of Streetlights at Crosswalks for Pedestrian Safety

Amid continuing concerns about rising rates of pedestrian traffic deaths in recent years, the findings of a new study suggests that adding streetlights and other observable lighting features at crosswalks could have a significant impact on improving safety for walkers at nighttime.

In a report published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on July 30, a team of researchers led by Wen Hu indicate that pedestrians pushing a button to trigger lighted crosswalks at night resulted in substantial decreases in the speed of approaching vehicles, and dramatically increased the odds that drivers will yield to those traveling by foot.

The findings come as communities nationwide look for ways to address the steady uptick in pedestrian injuries and deaths from auto accidents, which have spiked following increased use of scooters and micromobility devices, and rising risks associated with distracted driving.

The vast majority of pedestrian deaths occur in nighttime collisions, with prior research indicating those crossing a street are between three and nearly seven times more likely to be killed in the night than during the daytime.

In this new IIHS study, Hu found that drivers are more than 13 times more likely to yield at night to pedestrians in lighted crosswalks than unlighted ones, since drivers are likely to reduce their speed by 10 mph or more at lighted crosswalks. Moreover, if the crosswalk lighting is triggered by a pedestrian pushing a button, the driver is even more likely to yield or slow down.

Pedestrian Deaths Have Risen in Recent Years

In recent years, safety officials have looked for ways to make U.S. roadways safer for those walking, as pedestrian deaths have reached the highest levels in decades.

Many of the efforts have focused on addressing the rising rates of distracted driving, as well as pedestrian risks from SUVs and other large vehicles, which have become more common on U.S. roadways. These vehicles typically have high front ends that can cause catastrophic injuries to cyclists and pedestrians, especially children.

A report released in June by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) found that pedestrian traffic fatalities are higher than pre-pandemic levels, warning that a sharp decline in traffic enforcement nationwide since 2020 has allowed dangerous driving behaviors to increase and become a pervasive problem.

According to the GHSA report, there were 3,373 pedestrian traffic deaths in the first half of 2023. This represented a 4% decrease from the previous year. However, that number is still 14% higher than in 2019, with fatalities rising much faster than population growth.

An earlier report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that reducing the rate of pedestrian injuries in auto accidents requires more protective measures by communities nationwide.

The CDC highlighted a number of deficiencies in pedestrian traffic infrastructure throughout the U.S. These include unsafe walking conditions, poorly maintained sidewalks, insufficient street lighting, as well as a lack of crosswalks, speeding vehicles, intoxicated drivers and pedestrians, and visibility issues.

Lighted Crosswalks Can Decrease Pedestrian Auto Accidents

In the IIHS study, Hu compared the use of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) together with lights at crosswalks, as opposed to the use of flashing beacons or lights alone.

The study observed nighttime vehicle speeds at four different crosswalks. One crosswalk used existing street lighting. Another crosswalk used continuous lighting on the crosswalk, while the other two used either flashing beacons alone or beacons plus crosswalk lights triggered by a pedestrian pushing a button.

The researchers determined that the use of either continuous or triggered lighting at crosswalks that contained low lighting levels in the night caused vehicles to yield or reduce their speeds significantly. Moreover, drivers were more likely to reduce their speeds or yield to triggered lights rather than flashing beacons alone or crosswalk lights alone.

“When RRFBs are used together with illuminators at the recommended illuminance at night, drivers’ awareness and pedestrian visibility both improve and as a result, the combined treatments lead to greater benefits than RRFBs alone or illuminators alone,” Hu said. “It is suggested that when installing RRFBs at sites that are not well-lit, agencies should consider adding lighting to ensure optimal visibility of pedestrians and to maximize the safety benefits of RRFBs.”