The use of medians and islands may help keep pedestrians safe when they cross a roadway. This is because they may make pedestrians more visible to drivers while forcing cars approaching these crossings to slow down. Pedestrian crossings may be especially helpful for those trying to cross the street.
Crosswalks are worthwhile for urban or suburban areas that have a mixture of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. Ideally, they will be between 4 and 8 feet wide or however large they need to be to accommodate pedestrians safely and comfortably. Research indicates that strategic placement of medians and crossings can reduce pedestrian accidents by as much as 46 percent, and they may be able to reduce motor vehicle crashes by as much as 39 percent.
Medians and crosswalks should also be placed in areas where traffic may be moving at speeds of more than 40 mph. Of pedestrians hit by cars, 80 percent died when hit by a vehicle traveling more than 40 mph. However, only 20 percent of pedestrians struck by vehicles died when they were traveling at 20 mph or less.
Although medians and pedestrian crossings may save lives, they do not guarantee that an accident will not take place. Even at slow speeds, an accident could result in serious injuries that cause long-term consequences. Those who have been injured in a hit-and-run accident may wish to contact an attorney. An attorney may be able to review the case to determine if a victim is entitled to compensation, which might cover expenses associated with the accident. For example, it may be possible to receive funds that pay for medical expenses or wages lost while recovering from the injury.
