Pedestrian Signal Safety - AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety

Table F-13. White Plains, New York: intersection level of service under various peak-hour traffic
volume and pedestrian walking speed scenarios.
Walking
speed
scenario
Existing
volume
+5 percent
volume
LOS (and average delay, in sec.)
+10 percent
volume
+15 percent
volume
+25 percent
volume
3.00 ft./sec. B (17) B (17) B (17) B (18) B (18)
3.50 ft./sec. B (17) B (17) B (17) B (18) B (18)
4.00 ft./sec. B (17) B (17) B (17) B (18) B (18)
Major street LOS (and average delay, in sec.)
3.00 ft./sec. C (23) C (23) C (23) C (23) C (24)
3.50 ft./sec. C (23) C (23) C (23) C (23) C (24)
4.00 ft./sec. C (23) C (23) C (23) C (23) C (24)
Minor street LOS (and average delay, in sec.)
3.00 ft./sec. B (13) B (13) B (13) B (14) B (13)
3.50 ft./sec. B (13) B (13) B (13) B (14) B (13)
4.00 ft./sec. B (13) B (13) B (13) B (14) B (13)
* Note: Cycle length= 100 sec.
SUMMARY
In summary, the key results are as follows for White Plains:
• Walking speeds for older pedestrians were generally slower than for pedestrians younger
than 65 by about 0.50 to 0.70 ft./sec. These differences were statistically significant at the 95percent
confidence level for both traditional and countdown signals. There was no statistically
significant difference between traditional and PCD signals for both age groups.
• Pedestrians with mobility impairments and without motorized wheelchairs had appreciably
slower walking speeds—their mean was 3.00 ft./sec. compared to about 4.40 ft./sec. for
older pedestrians in general and 5.00 ft./sec. for younger pedestrians. A small sample size is
recognized.
• Older pedestrians had a slower start-up time, but this will vary by intersection and leg of
intersection.
• A higher level of non-compliance (entering crosswalk on DW display) was found with the
younger group and with countdown signals regardless of age.
• No statistically significant differences were found for the percentage of pedestrians left in the
intersection when comparing age or type of pedestrian signal.
• Surveyed pedestrians generally preferred the PCD signal to traditional signals, with 90 percent
of pedestrians understanding the indication.
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