Reducing Pedestrian Injuries With “Head Starts”

How much time does a pedestrian in Oceanside have to cross a street at a crosswalk with a “walk” indicator before the light for turning vehicles turns green? According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Columbia University, extra seconds could make a significant difference in reducing the rate of pedestrian injuries in vehicle collisions. In many urban and suburban areas with crosswalks and traffic lights, the “walk” signal for pedestrians lights up just as vehicle traffic at the cross intersection gets a green light. What this means is that pedestrians are beginning to step into the crosswalk just as vehicles turning at the intersection are getting a green traffic signal that allows them to make a turn through that same crosswalk. A surprisingly high number of collisions occur in that moment, the new research suggests.

What should drivers and pedestrians know about the new study? Our Oceanside personal injury lawyers can tell you more.

Research Addresses Visibility of Pedestrians at Intersections

The new research, which was published in the journal Nature Cities, assessed data from more than 6,000 urban intersections over a five-year period. What it found is that, when pedestrians have more lead time to begin walking across a street before the light turns green and allows vehicles to turn, pedestrians are less likely to be involved in collisions with turning vehicles. The research suggests that pedestrians are simply more visible to turning cars and trucks when they have time to reach the middle of the crosswalk before vehicles have the ability to turn on green.

Adding Seconds Can Prevent Pedestrian Injuries

A type of intervention known as a “Leading Pedestrian Intervention,” or LPI, can save pedestrian lives and prevent injuries in collisions, the researchers suggest. LPIs are simply interventions that give pedestrians more lead time before a green traffic signal that allows vehicles to turn. The typical LPI time is anywhere from 7 to 11 seconds — in other words, a head start of 7 to 11 seconds. And those seconds can make a significant difference.

The research suggests that even a 7-second lead time for pedestrians can reduce injuries by approximately 33% and fatal pedestrian collisions by approximately 65%. The results are particularly “dramatic during daytime hours,” according to a Consumer Affairs report on the study. As the lead author of the study, Christopher Morrison, explained, “most pedestrian-vehicle crashes happen near the curb, where drivers are less likely to see people crossing.”

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Oceanside for Assistance

If you were injured in a pedestrian collision with a motor vehicle, or if you lost someone you love in a collision, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as you can. The statute of limitations for these types of accidents only gives you a limited amount of time to file a claim and to hold the driver accountable. An experienced Oceanside personal injury lawyer at our firm can speak with you today about your case. Contact North County Injury Lawyers to learn more about how we can assist you and your family with your legal options.