Variables Influencing Efficacy of Gateway In-Street Sign Configuration on Yielding at Crosswalks

Abstract

This study examined the effects of several variables influencing the effectiveness of the in-street sign used in a gateway configuration. This experiment compared the R1-6 gateway treatment with the sign message present and with the sign message absent (use of the fluorescent yellow green background without the symbol message) on drivers yielding right-of-way to pedestrians in crosswalks. Results show that the use of yellow–green blanks without the sign message produced an average increase in yielding from 7% to 33% while the addition of the message increased yielding to 78%. Data were also collected to compare various configurations of the in-street sign on drivers yielding right-of-way to pedestrians at three sites. Results show that the full gateway was the most effective configuration, placement of the edge signs in the gutter pan was only slightly more effective than placement of the edge signs on top of the curb face, partial installation of the gateway was less effective than the full gateway alone, and substitution of a very durable flexible delineator post for the lane line signs resulted in 60% of drivers yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.