Safety Evaluation of "Yield To Pedestrian Crossing Devices" (YTPCD) at Non Signalized and Mid Block Crossing

To assess the safety benefit of “yield to pedestrian” channelizing devices and provide recommendations regarding their future usage in Pennsylvania.

In 2004, there were 4,641 highway fatalities recorded in the United States involving pedestrians. Statistics in Pennsylvania follow suit,, showing that a significant number—150 in 2004—of highway accident fatalities are pedestrians. To address these safety challenges in an economical way, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has purchased hundreds of yield-to-pedestrian channelizing devices (YTPCD) to remind motorists of the need to yield right-of-way to pedestrians. More than 1,300 of the devices that have been distributed to municipalities within the state are placed prior to a painted marked crosswalk, in the center of the road, in hopes of improving motorist awareness of pedestrians who may be crossing. With PennDOT having made a significant commitment to these low-cost devices, it is important to know how effective they may be, and where they would be most effective. This project will involve field testing of YTPCD implemented at locations throughout Pennsylvania representing a mix of development and traffic patterns. The research will result in an assessment of the safety benefit of these devices through surrogate measures, and will provide recommendations regarding their future usage in Pennsylvania.