Addressing Issues in Nighttime Pedestrian Safety with Lighting

In the last decade, pedestrian fatalities in the United States have been increasing at an alarming rate. According to a Governors Highway Safety Association report, the number of pedestrian fatalities since 2007 increased by 27% while all other traffic deaths decreased by 14%. Seventy-six percent of all pedestrian deaths from vehicle accidents occurred after dark. Although improving street lighting is a successful strategy to reduce nighttime pedestrian fatalities, there are still questions about the best ways of illuminating pedestrian crosswalks at intersections and at midblock locations. Further, the safety effects of street lighting have never been directly compared to other pedestrian safety countermeasures like signs, flashing signs, rectangular-rapid flashing beacons etc. This seminar will present the state-of-the-art research for increase pedestrian safety at night. The seminar will include lighting guidelines of crosswalks at intersections and midblock locations that increase the visibility of pedestrians. These guidelines will also include specifications of horizontal and vertical light levels and luminaire pole placements so that departments of transportation (DOTs) can easily adopt them. The seminar will also include the performance of newer and alternative crosswalk lighting technologies in increasing pedestrian visibility. The combined safety benefits of lighting with other pedestrian safety countermeasures will also be discussed so the DOTs can determine the best way to increase pedestrian safety at night.

• Learning Objective 1: Upon completion, the participant will be able to identify the factors affecting pedestrian visibility and safety at night.
• Learning Objective 2: Upon completion, the participant will be able to understand the effect of lighting design of crosswalks on pedestrian visibility, safety and well-being.
• Learning Objective 3: Upon completion, the participant will be able to understand the implementation of lighting guidelines to increase pedestrian visibility and safety at night.
• Learning Objective 4: To understand the how empirical research can support the development of lighting design recommendations for the safety and well-being of pedestrians at dusk, night, and dawn.