Pedestrian Crossing Safety

Crossing the road can be a dangerous proposition for pedestrians. In urban areas with multiple lanes of traffic, distractions all around and travellers using various modes of transportation, the hazards are everywhere. City planners typically install crosswalks at intersections to help pedestrians cross. However, the majority of pedestrian fatalities happen when they try to cross the street mid-block — whether at an unmarked crosswalk or in an area where they’re not supposed to cross. Highly visible mid-block crosswalks can help reduce these types of pedestrian crashes and fatalities.

Advancing pedestrian crossing safety.

Pedestrians are a vulnerable road user group and are increasing susceptible to road traffic injury. Did you know that in Australia pedestrians make up approximately 14% of the annual Australian road toll¹.

1. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. (2013). Road safety statistics.

An Urban Safety Solution: High-Visibility Mid-block Crossings

Protect pedestrians. Reduce collisions. Save lives.

Key factors contributing to mid-block pedestrian fatalities:
- Drivers are less likely to look for pedestrians crossing in these areas.
- Vehicles are travelling faster than they are at intersections.
Well-marked, highly visible mid-block pedestrian crosswalks are a proven, cost-effective way to improve safety for pedestrians in urban areas. By determining where pedestrians are most likely to cross and installing crosswalks in these locations, we can help increase the visibility of pedestrians and driver awareness of people crossing the road.

Designing and Building Effective Mid-block

Recommendations for infrastructure and road designers to help pedestrians safely cross the road.

City planners are realising that pedestrian crosswalks are needed where people cross the street, including mid-block. Infrastructure and traffic safety devices are a low-cost and effective way to help improve pedestrian crosswalk visibility and calm traffic in these locations.

High-Visibility Traffic Signs

Traffic signs help indicate to pedestrians where they can cross while warning drivers of an approaching crosswalk, or curb bump-out, in time to reduce their speed and stop. For traffic signs to be most effective, they need to be highly visible and conspicuous in a range of conditions, including at dawn, dusk, night, or inclement weather.
Retroreflective Pavement Markings

Highly visible retroreflective pavement markings provide on-road indications of crosswalks for both pedestrians and motorists. Advanced wet retroreflective pavement markings use next-generation optics to improve visibility in all conditions — night or day, rain or shine.
Channelizers and Delineators

Channelizers and delineators are a cost-effective way to create median refuges — designating safe spaces for pedestrians to wait as they cross larger streets. Apply retroreflective sheeting to channelizers to ensure they’re highly visible to motorists.

Graphic of pedestrian in urban crosswalk losing balance backing up as car enters crosswalk.

Helping You Build Safer Mid-block Crossings

Traffic Safety Products for Mid-block Crossings

3M traffic safety devices are engineered to be more visible, more conspicuous, more durable and more versatile, helping you build safe and effective complete streets where pedestrians avoid jaywalking.

Pavement Markings

High-visibility retroreflective pavement markings help drivers see and stay in their lanes, improving road safety for all.

3M™ Stamark™ High Performance Pavement Marking Tape Series 380AW
Symbols and Legends

Symbols and legends pavement marking tape helps delineate crosswalks for pedestrians and give motorists advance warning to watch for people crossing the street.

3M™ Stamark™ Pavement Marking Symbols and Legends Tape Series L380
Reflective Sheeting

Retroreflective sheeting on traffic signs reflects light from a vehicle’s headlights back to the driver. Fluorescent colours provide added visibility during dawn and dusk hours, increasing the number of time drivers have to react to crosswalks.

Traffic Signs

Need Help Designing and Building Safer Urban Roads?

Our 3M experts are here to show you cost-effective and easy-to-apply traffic infrastructure solutions that can help you improve traffic safety and mobility.

CONTACT A 3M EXPERT