USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                    About FHWAFHWA Organization
                Headquarters Offices
                Field Offices
                Strategic Plan
                Business Opportunities
                Staff Directories
                Careers
                Highway History
                Contact UsProgramsAcquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                Safety
                Browse by TopicsResourcesCore Highway Topics
                Federal Aid Essentials
                Automation
                Complete Streets
                Laws and Regulations
                Policy & Guidance Center
                Section 508
                Publications and Statistics
                Professional Development
                National Highway Institute
                Resource Center
                Accessibility Resource Library
                FHWA Research LibraryNewsroomPress Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Photos
                Videos
                Media ContactsMenu FHWA Highway Safety Programs Home
                        Safety
                        Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety
                        STEP


            
            In This Section
        Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety
                Background & Resources
                                Crash Data & Facts
                Legislation & Guidelines
                Related Websites
                Safe System
                                Community Led Pedestrian and Bicycle Resources
                Primer on Safe System Approach
                Noteworthy Local Polices That Support Safe and Complete Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks
                Safety Tools
                Safety Countermeasures
                                Overview
                State Best Practices Policy for Toolbox of Countermeasures and Their Potential Effectiveness for Pedestrian Crashes
                Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Guide–Recommendations and Case Study
                Safety Benefits of Raised Medians and Pedestrian Refuge Areas–Tri-Fold Brochure
                State Best Practices Policy for Medians
                State Best Practices Policy for Shoulders and Walkways (etc.)
                Evaluation of Pedestrian Countermeasures in Three Cities: San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami
                STEP
                                Overview
                Resources
                Webinars
                Videos
                Campaign
                STEM Lessons
                Focused Approach to Safety
                                Overview
                Resources
                Webinars
                In the News
                Available Trainings
                Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment
                                Guidance
                Data Tools and Resources
      
   Contact Us
      Becky Crowe
      
                    
            Program Contact
      
                    
            Office of Safety Programs
      
                
    **Email:**rebecca.crowe@dot.gov**Phone:** (202) 507-3699
    If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
                
                Step Up for Pedestrians at Night
    

    
    
          In 2018, 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. occurred in dark conditions.1 Studies have identified a strong relationship between darker conditions and more severe injury pedestrian crashes.2 Appropriate lighting should increase visibility of pedestrian crosswalks and reduce glare for motorists. Illumination may also encourage more pedestrians to use crosswalks.3 Generally, overhead lights should be placed in advance of crosswalks and intersections, on both approaches, illuminating pedestrians from the sides and not creating overhead shadows on people crossing the road.4

At intersections, overhead lighting is estimated to reduce all types of injury crashes by 27%. Outside of intersections, overhead lighting improvements are estimated to reduce all types of injury crashes by 23%.5 Countermeasures such as high-visibility crosswalks and activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons increase visibility of pedestrians.

For more information about these and other countermeasures to improve pedestrian crossing safety, visit the FHWA Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) program website: www,fhwa.dot.gov/safety/pedestrian-bicyclist/step

1Pedestrians, 2018 Data. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812850

2Thomas, L., Sandt, L. S., Zegeer, C. V., Kumfer, W., Lang, K., Lan, B., ... Schneider, R. J. (2018). Systemic pedestrian safety analysis (p. 111). Washington, D.C.: Transportation Research Board. Available: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25255/systemic-pedestrian-safety-analysis

3Nambisan, S. S., S. S. Pulugurtha, V. Vasudevan, M. R. Dangeti, V. Virupaksha. Effectiveness of Automatic Pedestrian Detection Device and Smart Lighting on Pedestrian Safety. In Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2140, Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., 2009, pp. 27-34.

4Gibbons, R., C. Edwards, B. Williams, and C. Andersen. Informational Report on Lighting Design for Midblock Crosswalks. Publication FHWA-HRT-08-053, FHWA, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2008. Available: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/08053/

5Harkey, D.L., R. Srinivasan, J. Baek, F. Council, K. Eccles, N. Lefler, F. Gross, B. Persaud, C. Lyon, E. Hauer, and J. Bonneson. NCHRP Report 617: Accident Modification Factors for Traffic Engineering and ITS Improvements. NCHRP, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 2008. Available: http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/156844.aspx
              
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Highway Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About
  

        
              About FHWA
                Careers
                Org Chart
                Staff Directories
                Work with UsPrograms
  

        
              Acquisition Management
                Civil Rights
                Federal Lands Highway
                Infrastructure
                Innovative Program Delivery
                Operations
                Planning, Environment, and Realty
                Policy
                Research, Development, and Technology
                SafetyPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Accessibility
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web StandardsNews & Events
  

        
              Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches & Testimony
                Media Contacts
                Connect with Us