INSTRUCTIONS FOR A PEDESTRIAN AT A ROUNDABOUT

How to Cross

• Pay attention. Think. Be prepared to make decisions.
  
  
• Step up to the curb and point your finger across the crosswalk to say to drivers that you intend to cross. Keep pointing until you reach the far side of the road.
  
  
• Keep watching all the way across. As you cross a multi-lane roundabout, watch for a driver coming in the next lane. Make sure that the driver sees you.
  
  
• Look and listen for a safe gap in the traffic flow before crossing. Do not start to cross if a vehicle is so close that the driver can not safely yield the crosswalk to you, or if a driver shows by the way that they are driving that they do not intend to stop for you.
  
  
• Use the sidewalks and crosswalks around the outside of the roundabout. Do not cut across the middle of the roundabout.
  
  
• Use the splitter island. This will let you cross one direction of traffic at a time. Wait on the splitter island if needed.
  
  

Good Body Language

The appropriate gap in traffic is something that you can create by your behaviour, not just something that will eventually occur if you wait long enough. Most drivers slow down as soon as they see a pedestrian at a roundabout crosswalk. Whether they then yield the crosswalk to you by slowing or stopping will depend mostly on your body language. There is enough sight distance at the roundabout for the driver to see you and slow or stop. Drivers are more likely to yield the crosswalk to you if your body language shows that you intend to cross. Use the following assertive body language to clearly tell drivers that you intend to cross:

• Come up to the crosswalk briskly and deliberately – this also shows that you will not make drivers wait a long time for you to cross;
  
  
• Scan for a gap in traffic as you come up to the crosswalk;
  
  
• Look at the drivers;
  
  
• If you have to wait, step up to the curb or even stand with one foot into the crosswalk;
  
  
• Point across the crosswalk; and
  
  
• Start to cross as soon as you are sure that the driver intends to slow or stop to yield the crosswalk to you.
  
  

Poor Body Language

Drivers are more likely to NOT yield the crosswalk to you if your body language shows that you are willing or expecting to wait for a very long gap in traffic before crossing. The driver will assume that you are not ready to cross or do not intend to cross. Passive body language that tells drivers that you are willing to wait may include:

• Slowly ambling up to the crosswalk;
  
  
• Not looking at drivers;
  
  
• Standing on the sidewalk back from the curb;
  
  
• Standing with your hands on your hips;
  
  
• Setting down your grocery bags;
  
  
• Playing with your cell phone or music player;
  
  
• If you are jogging up to the intersection, beginning muscle stretches to fill in the time;
  
  
• Not taking advantage of an appropriate gap in traffic to make your crossing;
  
  
• Waving drivers on; and
  
  
• Hesitating and not starting to cross even when a vehicle is slowing to yield the crosswalk to you.
  
  

INSTRUCTIONS FOR A MOTORIST AT A ROUNDABOUT

• Think ahead and look ahead.
  
  
• Pedestrians go first. When entering or exiting the roundabout, yield the crosswalk to pedestrians.
  
  
• Don’t pass a vehicle that is slowing down as it approaches a crosswalk – there may be a pedestrian in the crosswalk.
  
  
• Don’t block the crosswalk.
  
  
• If you feel that you don’t have enough time to watch for pedestrians, then slow down. Don’t accelerate until you are past the crosswalk on your exit.
  
  

Pedestrians and Roundabouts

The Region uses roundabouts to improve the safety and walkability of pedestrian crossings of Regional intersections. A roundabout is safer for a pedestrian than a traffic control signal in many ways. At a roundabout, compared to a signalized intersection:

• A pedestrian has two crossings of one-way traffic moving at slower speeds;



• The driver has more time to judge and react to pedestrians because of the slower speeds;



• The crossing distance is less;



• The pedestrian only has to watch for traffic in one direction at a time;



• With no traffic control signal to divert the driver’s attention upward, the driver is focused on the vehicles and pedestrians around them;



• The driver is more likely to be looking in the direction of the pedestrian. When turning at a signal, the driver is often watching for conflicting traffic and not where they are going, e.g. looking left while turning right; and



• The driver and pedestrian are more likely to be alert and aware of each other because the driver and pedestrian have to decide when to go.

The Region experiences approximately 65 pedestrian collisions per year at its 475 traffic control signals. To date, since the first roundabout opened in 2004, the Region has experienced 1 pedestrian collision at its 11 roundabouts. The pedestrian was shortcutting through the central island of the roundabout rather than using the crosswalks and experienced minor injuries in the collision.

Pedestrians and Traffic Control Signals

In Waterloo Region, on average, more than twice as many collisions occur at a signalized intersection compared to a stop-controlled intersection with similar traffic volumes. On average, collisions increase when a new signal is installed. Staff compared 47 intersections within Waterloo Region for two years before and after installing signals. Traffic volumes increased an average of 3 percent, but overall collisions increased by 20 percent. Excluding angle collisions, injury collisions increased by 70 percent.

Studies indicate that a traffic signal generally does not improve pedestrian safety. Most pedestrian collisions in the Region occur at signalized intersections, most often while the pedestrian is in the crosswalk and has the right of way. Based on the studies before and after signals at the 47 intersections, pedestrian collisions increased from two to eight. Although the Region does receive requests to install signals, for example, at school crossings, the added convenience and comfort may be at the expense of safety. At a signal, a pedestrian needs to be aware of turning vehicles from numerous directions but may unfortunately feel safe and so simply watch the signal and neglect to scan for vehicles.