Countdown Pedestrian Signals and Low-Vision Pedestrians

The countdown pedestrian signal (CPS) has been shown to be more intuitively understandable than other signals in the way that it communicates the amount of available crossing time at an intersection. The improved comprehension may result in better levels of service to pedestrians at signalized intersections. Survey research has shown that the traditional flashing don't walk (FDW) signal is poorly understood, with low levels of pedestrian comprehension. By contrast, comprehension of the CPS tends to be much higher: between 86% and 100%. The study reported here examined how well low-vision pedestrians could determine how to respond and when to cross with the use of a CPS alone and with a combination of CPS and FDW at 12-m (40-ft) and 30.5-m (100-ft) crossings. The results showed that low-vision pedestrians often found it difficult to determine the signal phase at a relatively broad crossing, but the removal of the FDW from the display had no negative impact on the decision to cross during the pedestrian clearance phase.