Understanding pedestrian signals

The traffic engineer's goal is to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for all users.

By PAUL BERTELS

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 17, 2000

The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization has a Traffic Signal and Median Control Committee, which is made up of traffic engineering representatives from the cities, county and state.

The primary purpose of this technical committee is to review new traffic signal installations throughout the county, but the committee is also actively involved in the operation of the traffic signal system.

The activation, timing and operation of pedestrian features at signalized intersections have historically been confusing to the public. All traffic signals with pedestrian features operate according to federal guidelines, which provide adequate time for the average pedestrian to cross the road safely.

Individual jurisdictions are responsible for providing additional pedestrian time if it is needed at a particular intersection. Many traffic signals throughout the county have modified pedestrian signal timings based on individual users.

To activate the pedestrian features at most intersections, pedestrians must push the button on the pole on the corner. This button is at a height accessible by all people and has a sign listing the meaning of the various pedestrian phases: Walk, flashing Don't Walk and steady Don't Walk.

If the intersection has a pedestrian activation button, you must push the button to assure that adequate time is given to cross the road.

When the button is pushed, the traffic signal will adjust to allow for pedestrian crossing. In order to assure that all traffic is moving as efficiently as possible, most locations throughout the county do not provide the extra pedestrian time if the button is not activated.

The Walk, flashing Don't Walk and steady Don't Walk features seem to create the most confusion. (Symbolic designs are also used and consist of a steady or flashing hand to represent the Don't Walk and a walking figure for the Walk.)

Walk means that pedestrians facing the signal indication may proceed across the road in that direction. They should watch for turning vehicles that may not be watching out for them.

The Walk phase is usually activated for about seven seconds. The Walk phase is not intended to provide enough time to finish crossing the intersection, but time to get started.

A flashing Don't Walk means don't start! You do have adequate time to finish crossing the intersection.

The flashing Don't Walk phase is typically timed at 3.5 feet per second. For example, a 100-foot crosswalk would provide seven seconds of Walk and an additional 29 seconds of flashing Don't Walk.

(The flashing Don't Walk is necessary because the signal cannot go from a Walk to a steady Don't Walk. Someone may have started the crossing behind you, and no one should be in the crosswalk during the steady Don't Walk phase. The flashing Don't Walk is a clearance phase to get all of the pedestrians across the intersection.)

The traffic engineer's goal is to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for all users. If you notice an intersection that should have the timing modified because users require additional timing, please do not hesitate to call your jurisdiction's traffic engineering department or your MPO staff.

Thank you for the opportunity to help address these concerns.

Paul Bertels is chairman of the Traffic Signal and Median Control Committee of the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Back to St. Petersburg area news

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.