Implementing pedestrian safety interventions Attachment C <br />Attachment B <br />Even measures designed to protect pedestrians can have unintended negative <br />impacts and cause harm to pedestrians if they are poorly implemented. For example, <br />transforming a marked, non-signalized crossing into a signalized one might seem <br />positive for pedestrian safety but if the crossing time is too short it can increase <br />pedestrian risk, with pedestrians caught on the crossing when vehicles are signalled <br />to move. Short crossing times put slower-moving pedestrians at risk (8). <br />Adapt proven measures to local conditions <br />Each local context has its unique political, cultural, financial and road conditions. <br />Measures from high-income countries cannot be simply transferred to low- and <br />middle-income countries, without due consideration of the local context (see also <br />Module 3). Not all of the strategies listed in Table 4.1 are appropriate or necessary <br />for every site; the package of interventions must be tailored to best fit specific site <br />conditions, including traffic speed and volume, number of travel lanes, presence <br />of signs, volume and characteristics of pedestrians (e.g. school children, seniors, <br />pedestrians with disabilities), location type (downtown, suburban or rural), type <br />of land use, and other relevant physical and location factors. Module 3 provides <br />methods for assessing local factors for the purpose of choosing and adapting <br />interventions. <br />Implement the measures over time <br />It takes a sustained effort over a period of time to improve pedestrian safety <br />(see Box 4.1). A city or a region may begin with a few measures at the highest <br />risk locations, and over time increase the geographic coverage and number of <br />interventions implemented. <br />Provide supportive policies and guidelines <br />Improving pedestrian safety requires supportive policies that may be specifically <br />focused on pedestrian safety or be part of general transport and land use policies. <br />Guidelines that specify design standards for pedestrian facilities help to ensure <br />pedestrian safety in new roadways and correct deficiencies on existing roads (7). <br />Various existing guidelines such as the High capacity manual (9) and Complete <br />streets (io) can be adapted to the local setting. Generally, pedestrian safety policies <br />and guidelines need to recognize pedestrians as legitimate road users and promote <br />this recognition among planners, engineers and professionals who plan and <br />manage the road transport system; set and enforce traffic laws that ensure safety <br />of pedestrians; encourage an inclusive approach in planning new roads and/or <br />retrofitting existing roads; and pay attention to the specific needs of people with <br />disabilities, children and the elderly. <br />68 <br />Page 214 <br />