Synthesis of Safety for Traffic Operations - Transports Canada

Synthesis of Safety for Traffic Operations March 2003
Pedestrian Refuge Islands and Split PXOs
iTrans (2002)
The safety of pedestrian refuge islands and split pedestrian crossovers (SPXOs) were
investigated by the City of Toronto (iTrans, 2002). A brief description of each device is
as follows:
• Pedestrian refuge island are raised islands approximately 1.8 metres wide and 11
metres long located in the middle of roads that are 16 metres wide. Pedestrian
warning signs are located upstream on the vehicular approaches, end island
markers and keep right signs are posted on both ends of the island, pedestrian
entrances are posted with “Wait for Gap” and “Cross Here” signs. Legislation
does not provide the pedestrian with the right-of-way.
• Pedestrian crossovers are an Ontario-specific traffic control device that consists
of a combination of static traffic signs, an internally illuminated overhead
“pedestrian crossing” sign, and pedestrian activated flashing amber beacons. It
is fully described in the Ontario Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
Essentially a driver approaching an activated PXO must yield the right-of-way to
the pedestrian, and may proceed once the pedestrian has cleared the driver’s half
of the roadway. The islands present at SPXOs are of the same general design as
the pedestrian refuge islands. SPXOs are also outfitted with pedestrian warning
signs, keep right signs, and end island markers, however, pedestrian signing is
“Caution Push Button to Activate Early Warning System”.
The research included 30 pedestrian refuge islands and 20 SPXOs, in a direct comparison
of the safety performance of both devices. In addition, a before-after study to determine
the effectiveness of pedestrian refuge islands was undertaken. The crash results from the
direct comparison between the two devices are shown in Table 6.2.
TABLE 6.2: Safety Performance of Pedestrian Devices in Toronto
Total Crashes per Crash Severity (%)
Traffic
location
Control
Fatal Injury PDO
(crashes/year)
Pedestrian
Refuge Island
0.7 3 42 55
SPXO 3.6 1 47 52
The crash frequency at the SPXO locations is 5.5 times higher than the crash frequency at
the pedestrian refuge islands. Although exposure is not accounted for in this statistic,
elsewhere in the report it is noted that the pedestrian volumes at SPXOs average four
times the pedestrian volumes at the refuge islands.
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