Comparative Study of Countdown Pedestrian Signal Displays in the District of Columbia

Noel, Errol C.; Arhin, Stephen A. · 2010 · ROSA P / District Department of Transportation

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Summary

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two Countdown Pedestrian Signal (CPS) display configurations in the District of Columbia to determine if the local practice offers safety advantages over the national standard. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) mandates that countdown displays begin only during the Flashing “DON’T WALK” (FDW) interval. However, the District of Columbia employs a display that begins at the onset of the Steady “WALK” (SW) interval and continues through the FDW interval. The research aimed to assess whether this SW-FDW display influences pedestrian crossing behavior or safety outcomes differently than the MUTCD-prescribed FDW-only display, and to gauge public preference for each configuration. The researchers conducted a comparative “before and after” field study at 25 signalized intersections across all eight wards of Washington, D.C. Data collection involved videotaping pedestrian and vehicular traffic during morning and evening peak periods for both display types. Five surrogate safety variables were analyzed: pedestrians completing crossings during the red interval, pedestrians beginning to cross during the FDW interval, signal cycles with red-light running violations, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and signal cycles containing such conflicts. Additionally, an attitudinal survey was administered to pedestrians at high-activity intersections and drivers at Department of Motor Vehicles offices to assess comprehension and preference. Statistical analyses were performed using a 95% confidence interval to determine significance. The results indicated no statistically significant differences in pedestrian crossing behaviors between the two display types at the majority of the studied intersections (52% to 74% of sites). Specifically, variables such as the frequency of pedestrians starting to cross during the FDW interval or completing crossings during the red light did not show discernable changes attributable to the display configuration. Notably, no red-light running violations were observed during the video recordings, eliminating that variable from further analysis. In contrast, the attitudinal surveys revealed strong public preference for the District’s current method. Approximately 86% of pedestrians and 83% of drivers preferred the CPS display that starts at the onset of the SW interval. Furthermore, about 90% of pedestrians reported understanding the difference between the two displays, and 94% of drivers indicated that the countdown magnitude influenced their driving decisions. The study concludes that while the MUTCD-prescribed FDW-only display does not offer a discernable safety advantage over the SW-FDW display currently used in the District of Columbia, the latter is significantly preferred by both pedestrians and drivers. The findings suggest that the differences in pedestrian behavior resulting from the two display types are minimal for fixed-time signalized intersections. Consequently, the research supports the continued use of the SW-FDW countdown display in the District, as it aligns with user preference without compromising safety metrics compared to the national standard.

Key finding

There were no statistically significant differences in pedestrian crossing behaviors between the two countdown signal display types, although surveys showed a strong preference for the display starting at the Steady Walk interval.

Methodology

field_study

Sample size: 25

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• vru facing ehmi
• pedestrian behavior perception