Crosswalk Safety: Observations at Three Carbondale Sites

The purpose of this study is to find ways to prevent and reduce crosswalk collisions on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. An observational study was conducted to evaluate pedestrian crosswalk safety at three Carbondale, Illinois locations. A convenience sample was obtained from each location with 86 people at the first location, 125 at the second location and 300 observed at the third location. The data was obtained through videotaping on multiple dates and times. The pedestrian behavior observed was broken down according to their specific locations. During the time of surveillance, seven near misses occurred. Only 3.67% of the 300 pedestrians at the third location took advantage of the crosswalk button, this is in contrast to national statistic of 50%. Eighty-five percent of the sample looked both ways before entering the intersection. None of the pedestrians at the third location made it across the street before the traffic light change. At the second location 24% of pedestrians waited for traffic to slow while, 80.8% walked into the intersection without slowing down. The first location does not have a marked crosswalk while the other two locations had either a pedestrian light or marked crosswalk. Persons at this location showed more respect for motorist traffic by looking before crossing 100% of the time. The percentage of pedestrians not obeying standard crosswalk laws at the observed sites indicated there is a lack of knowledge, a false sense of security due to being within a marked crosswalk, and/or lack of concern of the consequences of crosswalk incidents. The observations clearly show that action is needed to prevent pedestrian injury or death at the three crosswalk sites. Based on the analysis of observation, current literature on crosswalk safety, and the three E's of safety (environmental engineering, education and enforcement), the following recommendations were made: adding a mid-block crosswalk at the first location, adding a countdown crosswalk light, building a crosswalk bridge at the third location, increase enforcement of existing vehicle codes, lengthen the pedestrian crossing signal time, or decreasing the speed limit in front of the second and third locations.