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Pedestrian Safety Countermeasure Deployment Project

In 2002, the Federal Highway Administration awarded grants to the cities of San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami to examine and map out their pedestrian crashes and develop a plan for deploying and evaluating various pedestrian safety countermeasures in high crash “zones” and locations. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate how a city could improve pedestrian safety by performing a detailed analysis of its pedestrian crash problem, identifying and evaluating high crash locations, observing factors such as driver and pedestrian behavior, and deploying various lower cost countermeasures tailored to the site. An independent evaluation was also conducted to compare the countermeasure deployment in the three cities. Some of the countermeasures evaluated include:

Automated (video) detection of pedestrians to extend crossing time, flashing beacons, “in sreet” pedestrian signs, “Turning Traffic Must Yield to Pedestrians” signs, median refuge islands, pedestrian push button acknowledgement, LED “No Turn on Red” signs, reduce minimum green time (hot button), “smart” crosswalk lighting, and pedestrian countdown signals.

San Francisco
Miami
Las Vegas
System Impact Report for Pedestrian Safety Engineering and ITS-Based Countermeasures Program for Reducing Pedestrian Fatalities, Injury Conflicts, and Other Surrogate Measures.
On May 28, 2009 FHWA held a webinar on this project. To see the presentations, click here: https://admin.na3.acrobat.com/_a55098539/p13656662/. To view/download the Powerpoint Presentations: Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Evaluation of Three Sites
Evaluating Pedestrian Safety Countermeasures: This article by Tamara Redmon, published in the March/April 2011 Edition of Public Roads Magazine, provides an overview of the Pedestrian Safety Countermeasure Deployment Project.

Program Contact

Tamara Redmon
tamara.redmon@dot.gov
202-366-4077

Gabriel Rousseau
gabriel.rousseau@dot.gov
202-366-8044

What’s New

The FHWA Safety Office is continually developing new materials to assist states, localities and citizens in improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. The materials listed on this page were completed recently.

New Pedestrian Forum – Spring 2013

New Pedestrian Safer Journey 2013 (Revised)

Bicycle Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists

Proven Countermeasures for Pedestrian Safety

Spotlight on Pedestrian Safety

Promoting the Implementation of Proven Pedestrian Countermeasures

State Best Practice Policy for Medians

State Best Practice Policy for Shoulders and Walkways

Pedestrian Countermeasure Policy Best Practice Report

The State of Florida is developing a statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. They have set up a project website that includes information about the project, workshop presentations and resources relating to pedestrian safety.

Evaluating Pedestrian Safety Countermeasures

Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas: Brochure, Booklet

Safety Benefits of Walkways, Sidewalks, and Paved Shoulders: Brochure, Booklet

Pedestrian Safety Strategic Plan