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Crosswalk Marking Field Visibility Study

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

STUDY OBJECTIVE

STUDY APPROACH

BACKGROUND

The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) contains the basic principles that govern the design and use of traffic control devices for all streets and highways open to public travel.⁽¹⁾ Basic information about crosswalk markings is included in part 3 of the MUTCD. Crosswalk markings provide guidance for pedestrians crossing roadways by defining and delineating paths on approaches. These markings are to be used in conjunction with signs and other measures to alert road users of a designated pedestrian crossing point. Figure 1 shows examples of crosswalk markings as presented in the 2009 MUTCD. Because some States adopt their own supplement or manual on traffic control devices and some develop policies and practices for subjects not discussed in the MUTCD, differences in crosswalk markings occur among States, cities, and other jurisdictions.

Source: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Figure 3B-19⁽¹⁾

Figure 1. Graphic. Examples of crosswalk markings.

While emphasis has been placed on researching pedestrian treatments, there is insufficient research to identify the relative visibility and driver behavior effects of the many different styles and patterns of crosswalk markings used in the United States and abroad. Previous research has included a laboratory study using projected 35–mm slides of alternative crosswalk markings to determine which markings were the most visible.⁽²⁾ Other studies have used speed measurements or yielding behavior recorded before and after the markings' installation.^(3,4) These studies focused on whether the presence of the markings (rather than a specific pattern) was effective. The lack of knowledge of the relative visibility of different marking patterns has inhibited the development of a consensus on whether more uniformity is needed in the form of tighter MUTCD standards or more comprehensive guidance on crosswalk markings.

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STUDY OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the relative visibility of three crosswalk marking patterns: transverse lines, continental, and bar pairs.

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STUDY APPROACH

In this study, participants drove an instrumented vehicle on a route through the Texas A&M University (TAMU) campus in College Station, TX. Advantages of the study location included being a college campus associated with heavy pedestrian activity along with an open road environment that avoided the driver being in an artificial setting while participating in the study. The route also included roads through the agricultural area of the campus, where roadways are more rural in feel. The study vehicle was equipped with instrumentation that allowed researchers to measure and record various driving performance data. However, the vehicle operated and drove like a normal vehicle.

Prior to the drive, participants were instructed to indicate when crosswalk markings were first detected by saying "crosswalk." They were also asked to identify speed–limit signs and two–way left–turn lane (TWLTL) arrows. In general, this study collected information on the distance from the crosswalk at which the participant verbally indicated its presence.

FHWA-HRT-10-068