Effects of crosswalk illuminators and rectangular rapid flashing beacons on speed reductions and yielding to pedestrians at night

March 2025

Dark conditions are among the circumstances under which pedestrian fatalities have experienced the largest increases. This study examines the nighttime effects of continuous and triggered illuminators at crosswalks on driver behavior: yielding to pedestrians and reducing speeds by >= 10 mph (16 km/h) and by >= 5 mph (8 km/h). The study also compares the effects of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) in conjunction with crosswalk illuminators with RRFBs alone and with illuminators alone. Driver yielding to staged pedestrians as well as vehicle speeds were observed at four crosswalks (in Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.) at night under three conditions: baseline with existing street lighting, continuous illuminators, and triggered illuminators. At one site with RRFBs, observations were made in two additional conditions: RRFBs alone, and RRFBs in conjunction with triggered illuminators. Logistic regression models evaluated the effects of these conditions on driver yielding and speed reduction. The study found that adding continuous and triggered illuminators at two crosswalks with low existing lighting levels made motorists 222.4%–275.5% more likely to yield, 182.3%–211.6% more likely to reduce speeds by >= 10 mph, and 102.0%–130.9% more likely to reduce speeds by >= 5 mph at night. RRFBs plus triggered illuminators at one site made drivers more likely to yield and to reduce speeds than RRFBs alone or illuminators alone (1211.2% versus 487.2%–533.4% for yielding, 570.3% versus 204.0%–294.7% for reducing speeds by >= 10 mph, 282.3% versus 136.7%–184.2% for reducing speeds by >= 5 mph). Study findings could help agencies select appropriate nighttime treatments to enhance safety benefits for pedestrians.