What is Nighttime Visibility for Safety?

Improving visibility along corridors, at intersections, and at pedestrian crossings can help reduce nighttime crashes and fatalities. The nighttime fatality rate on the Nation’s roadways is three times higher than the daytime rate, and 76 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur at night. Almost 90 percent of the traffic fatalities in the United States involve intersections, pedestrians and bicyclists, and/or roadway departures. Enhancing nighttime visibility for drivers and other road users will save lives. Several approaches are available that agencies can employ to improve visibility and reduce fatalities.

Enhancing visibility with a targeted application of cost-effective and proven lighting and traffic control device countermeasures can address a large part of the nighttime safety problem. Available tools include proven safety countermeasures and products, such as those championed by FHWA’s Safe Transportation for Every Pedestrian (STEP) and Focus on Reducing Rural Roadway Departures (FoRRRwD) initiatives, as well as updated and new tools for lighting design and application of traffic control devices.

BENEFITS
Implementing measures to enhance nighttime visibility can save lives and, in some cases, reduce energy costs.

Intersections. Nighttime crashes at rural and urban intersections can be reduced by 33 to 38 percent using well-designed lighting. Adequate intersection lighting can help reduce nighttime pedestrian-injury crashes by 42 percent. In addition, light-emitting diode (LED) luminaires use less energy than traditional ones, like high-pressure sodium luminaires, creating cost savings.

Pedestrians and Bicyclists. Crosswalk visibility enhancements for pedestrians such as rectangular rapid flashing beacons (47-percent reduction) or advance markings and signs (25-percent reduction) make it safer for people to cross a road. Many of these countermeasures are also cost-effective and relatively easy to install.

Roadway Departures. Horizontal curve delineation enhancements using chevrons (16- to 25-percent reduction), in-lane pavement markings (35- to 38-percent reduction), or fluorescent sheeting (18-percent reduction) can alert drivers to upcoming curves and can be used individually or in combination with each other or other countermeasures to reduce fatalities.

Learn more about this EDC-7 Innovation.