Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

DATA COLLECTION METHODOLOGY
Pedestrian Behavior Data
Data were collected in Montgomery County during the month of November 2004. At each intersection,
Portable Archival Traffic History (PATH) cameras were deployed for one full day of recording for
one minor leg and one major leg. PATH systems record pedestrian activity at an intersection
without interfering with pedestrians. The pedestrian behavior data were collected without any major
difficulties.
Surveys
Pedestrians in Montgomery County were surveyed at one of the intersections in Silver Spring
equipped with PCD signals a few months after PCD signals were introduced there. The survey
gauged pedestrian understanding and preference for the signals. Because PCD signals now are
commonplace in the study areas, the findings of the original survey were used for this analysis
instead of re-surveying pedestrians.
RESULTS
Walking Speeds
The walking speeds of 958 pedestrians were observed at the four intersections. This included 264
pedestrians estimated to be 65 or older based on visual observations. Pedestrian walking speeds
were measured from when they left the curb to when they returned to the curb on the other side of
the street. Pedestrians who left the influence area of the crosswalk (within 2 to 3 feet of the edge
of the crosswalk) during their crossing were not included in the analysis. The mean (average),
50th percentile (median), and 15th-percentile walking speeds were calculated for both groups of
pedestrians. These values are presented in Table E-2 individually for each intersection’s minor and
major approach. The mean, median, and 15th percentile also are represented collectively for all four
traditional crossings and all four countdown crossings.
159