Every intersection is a crosswalk. Research and experience has shown that painting stripes on roadways to designate crosswalks is not the answer to pedestrian safety that many people think it is. When this ratio was adjusted in terms of crosswalk use relative to vehicle traffic, there was still an impressive 2 to 1 difference in pedestrian accidents. People on foot must always act defensively around traffic. While marked crosswalks are effective for moving pedestrians through complex and confusing intersections, they should not be seen as safety devices on their own.
Crosswalks are most effective in conjunction with signals and other traffic control devices.
However, there is evidence that many pedestrians feel overly secure when using a marked crosswalk. By contrast, a pedestrian using an unmarked crosswalk generally feels less secure and exercises more caution in waiting for safe gaps in traffic before crossing. Overconfidence is considered to be a major factor in a disproportionate share of accidents involving pedestrians in marked crosswalks. On rural or suburban roads, where pedestrian volumes are low, drivers seldom see pedestrians in marked crosswalks. With no people around, drivers see no reason to slow down or stop.