Transportation Safety

Summary:

Following a review of the lighting literature and new lighting products, this study examined the lighting level at the location of night fatal and incapacitating (K&A) pedestrian crashes over a 5-year period in SW & SE Michigan. Not surprisingly, the results revealed that almost all the night pedestrian crashes coded on police reports as occurring under dark unlighted conditions occurred under very low lighting conditions (under 5 lux). However, at least 64% of those reported to have occurred under dark lighted conditions also had light reading under 5 lux. These results suggest lighting may be a more important determinant of night pedestrian crashes than previously suspected. An examination of newer LED lighting found that 8 ft. long LED light bars mounted under signal mast arms were able to adequately illuminate entire crosswalks including entry points. A field study found that the use of LED lighting activated along with an RRFB increased driver yielding rate and was associated with a large speed reduction in vehicles driven by drivers who did not yield to the pedestrian at locations with poor street lighting. Such smart lighting may be of benefit in reducing nighttime crashes at marked crosswalks with an RRFB.

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