I'm sure everyone has already heard the report about the pedestrians struck by a car in the crosswalk on San Jose on their way to a synagogue this past Friday. Well this morning there's an update to the story that this is apparently the second pedestrian this driver has killed on San Jose in the past 4 years. The driver also has quite the laundry list of moving violations.
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-09-15/story/2-crosswalks-san-jose-2-fatalities-1-driver
As terrible it is that this person still is allowed to operate a motor vehicle, there was an even worse tidbit of information that was mentioned on the news this morning that has to due with how short the walk signals for pedestrians on San Jose are. Apparently, if you don't press the signal button before crossing, you are only given half the amount of time to cross before the lights change; not enough to actually make it across.
I have never heard of something that ridiculous in all my life. If the crosswalk never indicated a walk signal without someone pressing the button is one thing, but to present the false impression that the crosswalk functions like just about every other crosswalk on planet earth and gives you time to cross is just absurd to me. Only in Jacksonville!
Christ, that makes a horrible story even worse. If this actually is the same guy he's a vehicular serial killer and should lose his driver's license for life and preferably spend some time in the hoosegow--two people dead and he's STILL on the road?!
^ I was looking at Google and it appears that intersection is about 124 ft across. The general walking speed for peds is usually considered 4 ft/sec so at a minimum the ped signal should indicate walk for at least 31 seconds in order to safely get across the intersection- even without a pedestrian actuating the signal. The article doesn't state how long the the ped signal says walk if the ped signal is not actuated. Regardless, very sad. And this dude has an atrocious driving record and should have his license revoked permanently.
Michael Fortunato, the driver of the car, stayed at the scene. FHP is still investigating to see if alcohol or a traffic violation were factors.
Our news partners, The Florida Times-Union, spoke with Rabbi Yaakov Fisch, Rabbi of Etz Chaim Synagogue and Fisch noted the dangers of crossing the street, particularly for the Orthodox Jewish faithful who on the Sabbath can't use any form of technology.
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/topstories/article/327807/483/Fatal-crash-near-synagogue-leaves-neighbors-outraged
many observant Jews do not cook, turn on electrpnic devices, or in this case push a walk crosswalk button during Shabbat.
I have many questions about this tragedy, but here are two
1. the reports say they were travelling to services, so it likely wasn't Shabbat yet....meaning they could push the button
2. I understand limiting the green time on side roads if the ped button is not pushed....but if that is the case, than the WALK signal should not light up....if folks can't cross safely in the time allotted, then why give them the false sense of security at all?
Bottom line...EVERY signalized intersection should have corsswalks and pedestrian countdown signals.
Quote from: tufsu1 on September 16, 2013, 01:11:12 PM
many observant Jews do not cook, turn on electrpnic devices, or in this case push a walk crosswalk button during Shabbat.
I have many questions about this tragedy, but here are two
1. the reports say they were travelling to services, so it likely wasn't Shabbat yet....meaning they could push the button
2. I understand limiting the green time on side roads if the ped button is not pushed....but if that is the case, than the WALK signal should not light up....if folks can't cross safely in the time allotted, then why give them the false sense of security at all?
Bottom line...EVERY signalized intersection should have corsswalks and pedestrian countdown signals.
"Bottom line...EVERY signalized intersection should have crosswalks and pedestrian countdown signals." Very True!
That, and honestly I'm not sure why stop lights dont have number counters embedded inside each of the colored lights.
Quote from: peestandingup on September 16, 2013, 01:47:19 PM
That, and honestly I'm not sure why stop lights dont have number counters embedded inside each of the colored lights.
A counter to indicate when the light will turn green for them?
Quote from: Josh on September 16, 2013, 02:20:19 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on September 16, 2013, 01:47:19 PM
That, and honestly I'm not sure why stop lights dont have number counters embedded inside each of the colored lights.
A counter to indicate when the light will turn green for them?
Signalized Intersection Crossings
Pedestrian Countdown Signals
These systems provide pedestrians with the remaining seconds available before the pedestrian phase ends. They can function with passive or pedestrian activated pedestrian sensors or fixed time signals. Pedestrian countdown signals are in the deployment stage, have been widely but sporadically deployed in a number of States and municipalities, and are accepted by both pedestrians and motorists who can see how much pedestrian crossing time remains.
Considerations
Benefits
1. San Francisco's pedestrian countdown signals have been associated with a 52 percent reduction in pedestrian injury collisions at pilot locations; in addition, about 92 percent of post-installation interviewees explicitly said the countdown signals were "more helpful" than conventional pedestrian signals, primarily because they showed the time remaining to cross. This is consistent with recent FHWA research that showed that a pedestrian sample strongly preferred the countdown signal to actual and theoretical versions of pedestrian signals, and that the countdown version was "most easily understood."
2. Existing installations indicate that the technology is relatively straightforward and easy to apply.
3. Initial before and after observations for communities or highways where pedestrian countdown signals are installed indicate generally mixed results regarding compliance with walk signals; however, there were fewer observations of pedestrians having to run once in the crosswalk.
Concerns
1. Only one limited evaluation was found that assessed the effectiveness of countdown signals to reduce pedestrian crashes. Conducting a crash-based analysis of a countdown signal would require hundreds or thousands of test sites in order to have an adequate sample of pedestrian crashes.
2. It is possible that the use of pedestrian countdown signals may increase some types of pedestrian crashes. Some drivers, who can see the device counting down, may use it as an indicator, independent of the stoplight, to step on the accelerator as soon as the countdown displays zero seconds. In such a case, a pedestrian who is still in the process of crossing the street may be struck by this motorist.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/legis_guide/rpts_cngs/pedrpt_0808/chap_3.cfm
Quote from: peestandingup on September 16, 2013, 01:47:19 PM
That, and honestly I'm not sure why stop lights dont have number counters embedded inside each of the colored lights.
Signalized Intersection Crossing – Pedestrians Struck by Through Vehicles
Automatic Extension of the Pedestrian Signal
This technology incorporates a passive pedestrian detection system that senses pedestrians who enter the crosswalk at the end of the pedestrian phase and extends it for a period of time that will allow the pedestrian to reach the end of the crosswalk. This system may be particularly beneficial at signalized intersections where there is a wide range of walking speeds among pedestrians, such as those with concentrations of older pedestrians, disabled pedestrians, or very young pedestrians.
Although automatic detection and extension of the walk signal for pedestrians have been used successfully in Europe and Australia for many years, such applications are still in the pre-deployment stages in the United States. To date, the system has been deployed at two intersections in Los Angeles and was recently installed in San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami. Preliminary results from studies of these installations are expected in spring of 2008, but no evaluation of the system is currently available.
Considerations
Benefits
1. Intersections where this technology is appropriate to consider include crosswalks with pedestrians who have less mobility and crosswalks that have high peaking volumes of pedestrians where some pedestrians occasionally get trapped in the crosswalk.
2. Once passive pedestrian sensors are more fully developed, this technology can be readily considered at many intersections.
3. The system will have the ability to cancel or shorten the call for the pedestrian signal if the pedestrian leaves the area, or if the pedestrian completes the crossing in a speedy manner. This can help prevent congestion caused by extended walk signal times.
Concerns
1. No data systems were identified that could either determine the level of pedestrian crashes at signalized intersections where a vehicle turning to the right in the crosswalk struck the pedestrian after the signal changed, or help identify intersections where it would be cost beneficial to consider this type of installation.
2. In coordinated systems, signal coordination will be more difficult to achieve.
3. In congested urban areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, a constant flow of pedestrians activating extended walk phases may contribute to congestion.
Potential Safety Impacts
This technology would be particularly advantageous for individuals who are disabled, elderly, very young, or unable to cross the street during the entire pedestrian phase. However, no studies examining the safety benefits of the technology have been identified to date.
Advancing and Deploying Automatically Extended Walk Signals
As with the other technologies previously discussed, further assessments need to be made to determine the conditions where application of this technology would be appropriate, although it appears to have the most potential for reducing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at intersections where there are a large number of elderly, disabled, or very young pedestrians who are unable to cross the street within the time normally allotted for the pedestrian phase. To this end, an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the automatic extension of the walk phase technology compared to the pedestrian countdown signal technology needs to be made to identify the types of intersections and conditions where use of the automatic extension of the walk phase is preferable, where it could be used in conjunction with pedestrian countdown signals, or where pedestrian countdown signals alone are adequate.
Assuming that a reasonable number of signalized intersections where this technology (or where this technology is in conjunction with pedestrian countdown signals) is preferable and cost effective to install are identified, and also assuming that further maturing of pedestrian passive sensors occurs, a technology demonstration should be considered to evaluate the costs and performance of the system to determine its effectiveness at reducing trapped pedestrians.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/legis_guide/rpts_cngs/pedrpt_0808/chap_3.cfm
I'm fully aware of the countdown timers for pedestrian crosswalks; the one mentioned I was replying to sounds like a counter for drivers instead.
Quote from: Josh on September 16, 2013, 02:49:12 PM
I'm fully aware of the countdown timers for pedestrian crosswalks; the one mentioned I was replying to sounds like a counter for drivers instead.
This quote from my above info is still valid. A counter just for drivers could have the same problem. 2. It is possible that the use of pedestrian countdown signals may increase some types of pedestrian crashes. Some drivers, who can see the device counting down, may use it as an indicator, independent of the stoplight, to step on the accelerator as soon as the countdown displays zero seconds. In such a case, a pedestrian who is still in the process of crossing the street may be struck by this motorist. One thing that could help is people need to drive the Posted Speed Limit which is 45mph!