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SAFE TRANSPORTATION Crosswalk Visibility FOR EVERY PEDESTRIAN 

COUNTERMEASURE TECH SHEET 

Enhancements 

This group of countermeasures includes improved lighting, 

advance or in-street warning signage, pavement markings, 

and geometric design elements. Such features may be 

used in combination to indicate optimal or preferred 

locations for people to cross and to help reinforce the 

driver requirement to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at 

crossing locations. 

For multi-lane roadway crossings where vehicle AADTs are 

in excess of 10,000, a marked crosswalk alone is typically 

not suffcient (Zegeer, 2005). Under such conditions, more 

substantial crossing improvements are also needed to 

prevent an increase in pedestrian crash potential. Examples 

of more substantial treatments include the refuge island, 

PHB, and RRFB. 

June 2018, Updated | FHWA-SA-18-061
EDC-4 STEP: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovation/everydaycounts/edc_4/step.cfm 

Crosswalk Visibility Enhancements 

High-visibility crosswalk marking. Highvisibility crosswalks are preferred over parallel 

line crosswalks and should be provided 

at all established midblock pedestrian 

crossings. They should also be considered at 

uncontrolled intersections. 

Parking restriction on the crosswalk 

approach. Parking restriction can include 

the removal of parking space markings, 

installation of new “parking prohibition” 

pavement markings or curb paint, and 

signs. The minimum setback is 20 feet in 

advance of the crosswalk where speeds are 

25 mph or less, and 30 feet where speeds 

are between 26 and 35 mph. 

Advance YIELD or STOP markings and 

signs.1 The stop bar or “sharks teeth” 

yield markings are placed 20 to 50 feet in 

advance of a marked crosswalk to indicate 

where vehicles are required to stop or yield 

in compliance with the accompanying 

“STOP Here for Pedestrians” or “YIELD Here to 

Pedestrians” sign. 

Curb extension. This treatment, also referred 

to as bulb-outs, extends the sidewalk or curb 

line out into the parking lane, which reduces 

the effective street width. Curb extensions 

must not extend into travel lanes and should 

not extend across bicycle lanes. 

Improved nighttime lighting. 

Consideration should be given to placing 

lights in advance of midblock and 

intersection crosswalks on both approaches 

to illuminate the front of the pedestrian and 

avoid creating a silhouette. 

In-street STOP or YIELD to pedestrian 

sign.2 These signs serve to remind road users 

of laws regarding right-of-way, and they may 

be appropriate on 2-lane or 3-lane roads 

where speed limits are 30 mph or less. The 

sign can be placed in between travel lanes 

or in a median. 

COST 

Countermeasure Range Average 

High visibility crosswalk 

marking 

Lighting 

Parking restriction 

Curb extension 

$600-5,700 each $2,540 each 

Varies based on fxture type and 

utility service agreement 

Varies based on the required signs 

and pavement markings 

$2,000-20,000 $13,000 each 

Advance STOP/YIELD sign N/A $300 each 

Advance STOP/YIELD line N/A $320 each 

In-street STOP/YIELD sign N/A $240 each 

1MUTCD section 2B.12 In-Street and Overhead Pedestrian Crossing Signs (R1-6, R1-6a, R1-9, and R1-9a) 

2MUTCD reference:Section 2B.11 Yield Here To Pedestrians Signs and Stop Here For Pedestrians Signs (R1-5 Series) 

References 

Harkey, D.L., R. Srinivasan, J. Baek, F. Council, K. Eccles, N. Lefer, F. Gross, B. Persaud, C. Lyon, E. Hauer, and J. Bonneson. (2008). NCHRP Report 617: Crash Reduction 

Factors for Traffc Engineering and ITS Improvements. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. 

Zegeer, C., R. Srinivasan, B. Lan, D. Carter, S. Smith, C. Sundstrom, N.J. Thirsk, J. Zegeer, C. Lyon, E. Ferguson, and R. Van Houten. (2017). NCHRP Report 841: Development of 

Crash Modifcation Factors for Uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossing Treatments. Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C. 

Gibbons, R. B., Edwards, C., Williams, B., & Andersen, C. K. (2008). Informational Report on Lighting Design for Midblock Crosswalks. Report No. FHWA-HRT-08-053. Federal 

Highway Administration. 

Bushell, M., Poole, B., Zegeer, C., & Rodriguez, D. (2013). Costs for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Infrastructure Improvements: A Resource for Researchers, Engineers, Planners, and 

the General Public. Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. 

Federal Highway Administration. (2013). Multiple webpages in PEDSAFE: Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System: 

• Marked Crosswalks and Enhancements: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=4 

• Lighting and Illumination: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=8 

• Parking Restrictions: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=9 

• Curb Extensions: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=5 

• Advance Stop/Yield Lines: http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/countermeasures_detail.cfm?CM_NUM=13