APPENDIX A.2

CROSSWALKS

“WHEN IS A CROSSWALK UNSAFE?”

Apparently, Whenever it is painted!

A number of years back, the City of San Diego published some startling results of a very extensive study of the relative safety of marked and unmarked crosswalks. San Diego looked at 400 intersections for five years (without signals and four way stops) that had a marked crosswalk on one side and unmarked crosswalk on the other. About two and one half times as many pedestrians used the marked crosswalks, but about six times as many accidents were reported in the crosswalks! Long Beach studied pedestrian safety for three years (1972 through 1974) and found eight times as many reported pedestrian accidents at intersection with marked crosswalks than at those without. One explanation of this apparent contradiction of common sense is the false sense of security pedestrians feel at the marked crosswalk. Two painted lines do not provide protection against an oncoming vehicle and the real burden of safety has to be on the pedestrian to be alert and cautious while crossing any street. A pedestrian can stop in less than three feet, while a vehicle traveling at 25 MPH will require 60 feet and at 35 MPH approximately 100 feet.

The California Vehicle Code says that a crosswalk exists at all intersection unless prohibit pedestrian crossings. Some of these crosswalks are marked with painted lines, but most of them are not. Pedestrian crosswalk marking is a method of encouraging pedestrians to use a particular crossing. Such marked crossings may not be safe as an unmarked crossing at the same location. Therefore, crosswalks should be marked only where necessary for the guidance and control of pedestrians, to direct than to the safest of several potential routes.

Mid-block crosswalks or crosswalks between intersections are to be avoided because they are unexpected by the motorist. Pedestrians should be encouraged to cross only at intersections so that they are crossing at a location where drivers will have the expectation of pedestrians and other vehicles being around.