The visibility and comprehension of pedestrian traffic signals : summary report

1997PDFTech ReportFHWA-RD-97-096Pedestrian signsPedestrian trafficSignal devicesSignalsVisibilityResearch and development or R&DUnited States. Federal Highway AdministrationBissell, HowardFHWA Traffic Safety Research ProgramNTL-OPERATIONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROLS-Traffic Control DevicesNTL-SAFETY AND SECURITY-Highway SafetyIntelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office;Federal Highway AdministrationThe research objectives were to determine performance criteria for acceptable pedestrian signal visibility and to study the comprehension of innovative and standard pedestrian signals. Two field studies and a video questionnaire were designed and implemented to test the visibility and comprehension of pedestrian signals. The rationale of these studies was threefold: (1) to examine the possible use of innovative symbols and red/green pedestrian signals; (2) to test the use of newer, energy-efficient technologies such as fiber-optics (FO) and light-emitting diodes (LED); and (3) to develop a performance-based visibility standard for pedestrian signals