Pedestrian and Bicycle Focused Policy Related to Traffic Signals
According to Pucher et al. (2000), the safety of pedestrians and bicycles have been neglected in the United States and made these two modes dangerous. Pucher et al. (2003) state that the possibility to be killed or injured for American pedestrians and cyclists is higher when compared with Dutch and German data. The United States is working to adopt policies to improve pedestrian and bike safety due to the higher rate of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities compared with car occupants.
Traffic signals remain the most flexible and effective way of actively controlling traffic. Traffic signals are advantageous because they ensure a sense of order in traffic movement. Because signal timing affects communities through the quality of transportation provided by these systems, the American authorities formulated and adopted policies to ensure that traffic signals work to the advantage of flourishing a society. Most signal control policies reflect the value the country presents in its transportation networks, as well as the operations connected with it as they refine the timing process.
A common policy is the pedestrian/bicycle focused on crossing and signals. In the United States, numerous citizens use the roads as pedestrians. As a result, the government formulated and adopted lots of policies to protect them. According to the Oregon Department of Transportation, the policy demands the existence of crosswalks at every intersection on all roadways. According to the Federal Highway Administration, pedestrian activation or detection should be provided on crosswalks. When the authorities close crosswalks due to accidents or other safety purposes, the pedestrians should be notified.
Similarly, an interval countdown may be provided at the crosswalk to inform the pedestrians of the amount of time remaining before the signal phase change. The countdown signals are considered very beneficial since they keep pedestrians alert, and ensure they cross the road safely.
Additionally, Koonce et al. (2008) argue that it is necessary to provide the signals in an on-visual form such as vibrations, audible tones or tactile surfaces for pedestrians with visual disabilities as a method to protect them from rogue road users. To increase the effectiveness, this policy advocates for short cycle lengths to minimize waiting times. Traffic signal policies refine the signal timing process. The Federal Highway Administration argues that the policy enables coordination of signals based on the speed of the transit vehicles as well as transit preemption for transits such as rail. Equally, preemption devices respond to activation to priorities as assigned. For instance, a preemption is required when a railroad locates at a designated number of feet away (Oregon Department of Transportation). Also, drawbridges and weighing bridges use preemption signals to ensure that vehicles do not overload. Thus, reduce unnecessary highway accidents and limited dangers to pedestrians.
The policy makers set out guidelines to ensure traffic management guarantees public safety in different states. Traffic signal timing has been in use since long time ago, and appropriate policies are essential to ensure that the systems become better over the years and it has come through as a result of many traffic signal policies that have continually been developed.
Reference:
● Federal Highway Administration. Traffic Signal Manual.https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop08024/index.htm
● Pucher, J and Dijkstra, D. (2000) “Making Walking and Cycling Safer.” Transportation Quarterly. Vol. 54, no. 3, pp. 25-50.
● Pucher, John, and Lewis Dijkstra. “Promoting Safe Walking and Cycling to Improve Public Health: Lessons From The Netherlands and Germany.” American Journal of Public Health 93, no. 9 (September 2003): 1509–1516.
● Koonce, P., Rodegerdts, L., Lee, K., Quayle, S., Beaird, S., Braud, C., & Urbanik, T. (2008). Traffic signal timing manual (No. FHWA-HOP-08-024).
● Oregon Department of Transportation. (2017). Traffic Signal Policy and Guidelines. https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Engineering/Documents_TrafficStandards/Traffic-Signal-Policy-Guidelines.pdf
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Written by Sara Urbina
Edited by Jensen Perrick
I like the ideas of countdowns for signal change, as well as shorter intervals for signal change. Both of these could make crossing at an intersection more convenient or at least less stressful. On the other hand I wonder if there could be some negative effects. For example, shorter intervals between signal changes might result in more people running red lights. Even though the wait for the next green would be faster in this case, people still like to slip in behind the last legally proceeding car. The countdown for signal changing to yellow is a huge benefit because I know when I have to hustle across. It would be nice to know when the red is going to change back to green though. The best we have now is waiting for the cross traffic pedestrian signal to start counting down, but sometimes the white man doesn't go away for a long time and I sit wondering if the light will ever change.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your frustration. I think another issue is the yellow lights! There are times that I don't know if I should hit the gas or brake. I'm sure every driver has experienced lots of these dilemmas. I know there are other countries which provide a red signal countdown for drivers. I find it very efficient and keep driver attention to the signal.
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