Transverse markings for crosswalks - not the best engineering practice
[B' Spokes have you ever noticed that SHA uses a lot of skimpy crosswalk markings on high speed roads and wounder if they are effective?]
excepts from: Evaluation of Pedestrian and Bicycle Engineering Countermeasures: Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons, HAWKs, Sharrows, Crosswalk Markings, and the Development of an Evaluation Methods Report - FHWA
CONCLUSIONS
The conclusions from this study were as follows:
• The detection distances to continental and bar pairs are statistically similar and are statistically longer than those for transverse markings.
• For the existing midblock locations, continental markings were detected at about twice the distance upstream as transverse markings during daytime conditions. This increase in distance reflects 8 s of increased awareness of the crossing for a 30-mi/h operating speed.
• The results of the appearance ratings of the markings on a scale of A to F mirrored the findings from the detection distance evaluation. Participants preferred the continental and bar pair markings over the transverse markings.
• Participants gave the continental and bar pair markings similar ratings during both the daytime and nighttime. However, the transverse marking ratings differed based on the light level. The participants gave slightly better ratings (although still worse than continental or bar pair markings) for transverse markings during the nighttime as compared to the daytime. The lower ratings during daylight conditions might be due to sun glare or shadow issues mentioned by the participants.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/pedbike/11039/11039.pdf