Comparative Study of Countdown Pedestrian Signal Displays in the District of Columbia

US Transportation Collection2010PDFTech ReportNoel, Errol C.Arhin, Stephen A.Howard University. Transportation Research Center (HUTRC)District Department of TransportationDistrict Department of TransportationWashington (District of Columbia)United StatesPedestrian actuated controllersPedestrian movementPerceptionTraffic control devicesTraffic signal control systemsCountdown Pedestrian Signal DisplaysHUTRC 2010-01HU-0005805Mr. Mesfin Lakew; Mr. William McGuirkFinal Report 10/01/2008 \u2013 10/01/2010According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Countdown Pedestrian Signals (CPS) shall only be displayed during the clearance interval (FLASHING DON\u2019T WALK - FDW) of pedestrian signals. The primary purpose of this CPS display is to inform pedestrians of the remaining time for crossing a road controlled by the signal, to discourage them from starting, and to inform those who are already on the way of the remaining time before the beginning of the DON\u2019T WALK (DW) interval. The general literature on CPS is conclusive that CPS is better understood than the conventional pedestrian signals. In the District of Columbia the CPS display starts at the onset of the Steady WALK (SW) interval and continues through the FDW interval. It is not certain whether this CPS display has any advantage over the standard display as prescribed by the MUTCD. In this research a comparative field study of both types of countdown displays at twenty-five (25) intersections in the District of Columbia was conducted in addition to an attitudinal survey to gauge the public\u2019s comprehension and perception of both displays. The results of the evaluation showed that at the majority of the intersections studied, there were no statistically significant differences in pedestrian crossing behaviors (using 5% significance level). The results of the analyses only apply to signalized intersections with fixed time control and show that the differences in pedestrian crossing behavior due to the two types of CPS displays are minimal. The attitudinal survey results showed that the majority of pedestrians (~86%) and drivers (~83%) prefer CPS display which starts at the onset of the SW.133