Effects of Crosswalk Illuminators and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons on Speed Reductions and Yielding to Pedestrians at Night
A recent study conducted by researchers at Western Michigan University examined how different lighting and signaling treatments impact driver behavior at crosswalks during nighttime hours—when pedestrian fatalities are rising most sharply. The research tested continuous and motion-triggered crosswalk illuminators, both alone and combined with rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), at four sites in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Key findings show that adding lighting significantly improves safety:
- Yielding increased by up to 275% with illuminators.
- Speed reductions of ≥10 mph increased by over 200%.
- Combining RRFBs with triggered lighting was especially effective—boosting yielding by over 1200% compared to baseline conditions.
These results suggest that using targeted nighttime treatments can dramatically improve pedestrian safety at crosswalks with low lighting levels.