Safety Evaluation of Yield-To-Pedestrian Channelizing Devices: Final Report

This report analyzes motorist and pedestrian behavior to determine the effectiveness of yield-to-pedestrian channelizing devices (YTPCD) in improving pedestrian safety. YTPCD are placed on the centerline of a roadway in advance of marked crosswalks to remind motorists of the necessity of yielding to pedestrians. Behavioral data were collected at five sites in each of four different community types (urban, suburban, small city and college town) before and after installation of those devices. Sites included crosswalks at unsignalized intersections and mid-block locations, with and without the devices, to measure both direct and potential spillover effects. Data were analyzed with respect to three hypotheses: whether motorists were more likely to yield to pedestrians, whether pedestrians were less likely to yield to motorists (implying greater pedestrian security), and whether pedestrians were more likely to use crosswalks. The analysis generally showed statistically significant support for all three hypotheses, suggesting improvements in pedestrian safety. The effects were more evident at intersections than at mid-block crossings, and did not appear to be related to community type. Spillover effects were comparable at intersections, but less pronounced at mid-block crossings. The report recommends consideration of YTPCD where local design conditions and pedestrian safety concerns warrant, and provides recommendations for future research.