Pedestrian Signing at Uncontrolled Crosswalks

Currently, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways recommends that the type of sign used at a pedestrian crosswalk be a warning sign instead of a regulatory sign. The same sign—a pedestrian crossing (W11-2) warning sign—can be used in advance of a pedestrian crosswalk. This article describes an FHWA project that aimed to develop and evaluate alternatives to the W11-2 sign for use at crosswalks. The research team investigated regulatory sign alternatives through human factors testing using a computer-based test (CBT) and in-field evaluations by observing driver yielding. The CBT showed that regulatory sign alternatives that included explicit commands (e.g., “Yield To”) were preferred and understood better than warning sign versions. Based on the CBT results and discussions with the project stakeholders, two signs were selected for the field test to compare with a base condition of the typical W11-2 sign. The field test signs included either the stop symbol or the stop word along with the word “for” and a walking pedestrian symbol within crosswalk lines. The sign shape was rectangular with a white background. The findings from field studies revealed similar driver yielding for the three signs tested. Stated in another manner, the test signs (regulatory with black text on a white background with a rectangular shape) developed in this research and the sign currently used at pedestrian crossings (warning with black text on a yellow background with a diamond shape) had a similar impact on a driver’s decision to yield or not yield to a crossing pedestrian.