Adapting Pedestrian Signals to Meet the Needs of Older Pedestrians

Making communities more walkable is important for pedestrians of all ages. In the United States, nearly 5,000 pedestrians are killed each year, and nearly one in four is age 65 or older. One way to make communities more walkable is to ensure traffic signals give sufficient time for pedestrians to cross at intersections, particularly in the case of aging pedestrians who may walk more slowly.

This project, conducted by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and VHB Inc., studied pedestrian walking speeds in six jurisdictions, to assess the amount of time that is needed to allow pedestrians of various ages to cross the street. Additionally, the project included traffic simulations to assess the impact on motorized traffic of allowing more time for pedestrians to cross at traffic signals.  It also looked at differences between traditional traffic signals and the newer pedestrian countdown signals. The findings will be published this summer in both a large technical report for researchers, and in a smaller summary report for use by practitioners in the field.  The findings are also expected to contribute to proposed changes to federal recommendations for the timing of pedestrian signals.