Town Of Corte Madera: Understanding Leading Pedestrian Intervals

Press release from the Town of Corte Madera:

April 1, 2021

In light of recent discussions on Nextdoor concerning pedestrian safety and the use of Leading Pedestrian Intervals at certain Corte Madera intersections, the Town would like to take this opportunity to provide some educational information regarding Leading Pedestrian Intervals and their overall effectiveness.

Crosswalk Safety & Leading Pedestrian Intervals:

Did you know that Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) at traffic signal crosswalks with high left-turn volumes are a proven safety countermeasure, as concluded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO)?

What is a Leading Pedestrian Interval?

A Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) is a traffic signal enhancement that typically gives pedestrians a 3–7 second head start when entering an intersection with a corresponding green signal in the same direction of travel.

How do LPI’s enhance pedestrian safety?

According to these transportation agencies, LPIs enhance the visibility of pedestrians in the intersection and reinforce their right-of-way over turning vehicles, especially in locations with a history of conflict. LPI’s enhance safety for pedestrians who may be slower to start into the intersection and increase the likelihood of motorists yielding to pedestrians.  

How effective are LPI’s in reducing pedestrian-vehicle collisions?

According to research performed by NACTO and FHWA, LPIs have been shown to reduce pedestrian-vehicle collisions by between 13% - 60% at treated intersections.

For more information you can visit the NACTO webpage, here; and Federal Highway Administration webpage, here.

This press release was produced by the Town of Corte Madera. The views expressed are the author's own.