Pedestrian signs and signals are a standardized system designed to promote safety and organization for both drivers and people on foot. The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) ensures these devices have consistent meanings across the United States, allowing road users to quickly understand the necessary actions regardless of location. These traffic control devices fall into distinct categories, including static warning signs, regulatory signs that mandate specific actions, and active signals that control crossing times.
Static Signs Warning of Pedestrians
Warning signs alert drivers to the potential presence of people walking or crossing the roadway ahead. The most common form of warning sign is the yellow, diamond-shaped sign with a black silhouette of a pedestrian walking, which is used to indicate a pedestrian crossing or high-activity area is approaching. Drivers must be prepared to slow down or stop.
For areas with high concentrations of children, a more conspicuous fluorescent yellow-green color is used, often on a pentagon-shaped sign. This specific color and shape combination is reserved for school zones, crosswalks near schools, and sometimes for bicycle or trail crossings. These signs frequently include a small rectangular plaque underneath that specifies the maximum speed limit, such as “20 MPH,” which is mandatory when children are present or when the lights on the sign are flashing. The vibrant, fluorescent color is intentionally selected because it is highly visible in various daylight conditions and at greater distances.
Signs Regulating Pedestrian Movement
Regulatory signs communicate mandatory rules that must be strictly obeyed by drivers and pedestrians alike. Regulatory signs state the law and are typically rectangular with a white background and black or red lettering. These signs are placed at the point where the regulation applies, such as at a crosswalk or the entrance to a restricted area.
Signs that specifically regulate foot traffic include the “Cross Only at Crosswalk” (R9-2), which is often used to prohibit mid-block crossings. Another specific sign, “No Pedestrian Crossing” (R9-3), is deployed to completely prohibit people from entering the roadway. For drivers, the “Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalk” or “Stop Here For Pedestrians” signs clearly mandate the legal requirement to defer to people already in the crosswalk before proceeding.
Active Signals Controlling Crossings
Active signals use illuminated symbols to provide dynamic instructions to people on foot at controlled intersections. The steady upraised hand symbol, which is often red or orange, means “Don’t Walk” and prohibits a pedestrian from starting to cross the street. This steady signal indicates that the pedestrian phase has ended.
The signal for starting a crossing is the steady white or green walking person symbol, which indicates that a pedestrian may begin to cross in the direction of the signal. This steady “WALK” phase is usually brief, intended only to provide enough time to enter the crosswalk safely before the signal changes.
Following the steady “WALK” phase, the signal transitions to a flashing hand symbol, often accompanied by a countdown timer. This flashing hand means a person should not start crossing, but if they are already in the crosswalk, they should continue walking quickly to clear the intersection. The countdown timer, if present, displays the exact number of seconds remaining before the steady red hand appears, providing actionable information about the time available to reach the opposite curb or a safety island.