Can zigzag marking improve pedestrian safety at unsignalized crosswalks? An observational before-after study in Israel

Abstract

Zigzag road marking near unsignalized pedestrian crosswalks is common in some countries but not yet allowed in Israel. An observational before-after study was conducted to explore its impacts on pedestrian crossing conditions. The measure was applied at three midblock urban crosswalks, on dual-carriageway and two-lane roads. The study examined changes in safety-related behaviors by comparing three periods: before the installation, and two weeks and two months afterwards. Shortly after the zigzag application, a significant decrease in average vehicle speeds, of 9%-16%, was observed at all study sites, but in a longer-term a decrease of 7%-8% remained at the dual-carriageway sites only. A relative increase in yielding rates to pedestrians was of 19%-20% in the short-term and of 13%-14% after two months, at dual-carriageway sites, with no change at the two-lane site. Overall, zigzag marking may improve pedestrian safety. However, as the effects were inconsistent, it was not recommended for widespread use.