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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... Beach bacteria thresholds may tighten ... Our View: Who politicized the UCC shootings? Not Obama ... View from 100,000 feet ... OUR VIEW Our View: Studies of painted crosswalks anything but clear MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Name just about any question of public policy, and there are studies examining the pros and cons of doing this or that. Often the studies conflict. So it is with the question of whether it is better to paint crosswalks or leave them unmarked. Medford's Traffic Coordinating Committee regularly receives requests from the public to paint crosswalks at particular intersections. For several years, the city's policy has been to paint crosswalks only at intersections controlled by signals or where there are flashing beacons or crossing guards, leaving the rest unpainted except on a case-by-case basis. After reviewing a Federal Highway Administration study published in 2005 that reviewed numerous other studies, it seems to us that Medford officials are misinterpreting its findings. For instance, the city's associate traffic engineer said, "Pedestrians behave more safely in unmarked crosswalks because they feel less safe." This leads to the conclusion that marked crosswalks give pedestrians a false sense of security, which may lead to more of them getting hit by vehicles. The initial study that prompted that conclusion was done in 1972 in San Diego. The 2005 federal study noted the San Diego study did not attempt to determine pedestrian behavior; it only compared accident rates of painted and unpainted crosswalks. Not surprisingly, the painted crosswalks where more people were hit also had higher numbers of pedestrians. Does that mean those who got hit were behaving unsafely? Not necessarily. In reviewing research that did measure behavior, the federal study stated, "These studies found pedestrian behavior to be, if anything, slightly better in the presence of marked crosswalks compared to unmarked crosswalks. Certainly the results showed no indication of an increase in reckless or incautious pedestrian behavior associated with marked crosswalks." The federal report recommended that painting crosswalks should be considered one of several steps to help pedestrians cross streets safely. Notably, the report says, "The results of this study should not be misused as justification to do nothing to help pedestrians cross streets safely." It seems clear that painting crosswalks won't automatically make pedestrians safer. But neither will it increase the danger. Common sense would indicate that anything that makes it clear to drivers that pedestrians may be crossing — like painted crosswalks — is probably a good thing. At particularly busy crossing locations, such as the crosswalk on Riverside Avenue near Rogue Community College, flashing lights are an added warning to drivers. The Traffic Coordinating Committee should not automatically dismiss requests for painted crosswalks out of a mistaken belief that they will reduce safety. It's time to revisit this policy. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 9, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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