Crossings and daylighting
Most people killed while walking are hit away from intersections, in the dark. Proven, low-cost fixes exist for every kind of crossing.
This page is a draft. Every fact links to its source, so you can check it yourself.
Where and when people are killed
In 2024, 7,080 people walking were killed in US traffic crashes. That is 18% of all traffic deaths. (NHTSA)
- 73% were hit at places that were not intersections, such as the middle of a block.
- 76% were hit in the dark.
(NHTSA, 2024 Pedestrians fact sheet)
In the City of Sacramento, 18 of the 49 people killed in traffic in 2024 were walking. (NHTSA, Table 8) Sacramento County ranked 7th worst of 58 California counties for people killed or hurt while walking in 2023. (California Office of Traffic Safety)
Paint is not enough on big roads
FHWA says that on roads with several lanes and more than 10,000 cars a day, "a marked crosswalk alone is typically not sufficient." (FHWA)
Fixes, from simple to bigger
All figures are from FHWA's Proven Safety Countermeasures unless noted.
| Fix | What it is | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| High-visibility crosswalk | Wide striped "ladder" markings | Up to 40% fewer pedestrian injury crashes (FHWA) |
| Advance "Yield here" or "Stop here" lines and signs | Tells drivers to stop well before the crosswalk, so one stopped car does not hide a walker from the next lane | Up to 25% fewer pedestrian crashes (FHWA) |
| Crossing lighting | Lights that shine on the person crossing | Up to 42% fewer pedestrian crashes at intersections (FHWA) |
| Leading pedestrian interval (LPI) | At a signal, walkers get a 3 to 7 second head start | 13% fewer pedestrian crashes at intersections (FHWA) |
| Raised crosswalk | Crosswalk at sidewalk height, like a speed table | About 45% fewer pedestrian crashes (FHWA) |
| Rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) | Push-button flashing lights on the crossing signs | Up to 47% fewer pedestrian crashes; works best under 40 mph (FHWA) |
| Refuge island | A raised island in the middle so you cross one direction at a time | 56% fewer pedestrian crashes (FHWA) |
| Pedestrian hybrid beacon (PHB) | A signal that stops traffic only when someone pushes the button | 55% fewer pedestrian crashes, 15% fewer serious and fatal crashes (FHWA) |
FHWA says PHBs fit where speed limits are over 35 mph, where people cross three or more lanes, or where traffic is over 9,000 cars a day. (FHWA)
Daylighting: a free fix that is already the law
"Daylighting" means keeping the curb clear right before a crosswalk so drivers and people crossing can see each other. A parked SUV next to a crosswalk can hide a child completely.
California's AB 413 made this state law:
- No stopping, standing or parking within 20 feet before any crosswalk, marked or unmarked. Where there is a curb extension (bulb-out), the limit is 15 feet.
- The law took effect January 1, 2024. Since January 1, 2025, drivers can be ticketed even if the curb is not painted.
- A city or county can set a different distance only by ordinance, backed by safety standards, and marked with paint or a sign.
- Agencies may allow bike or scooter parking in that space.
Remember that every intersection has crosswalks, even without paint. So the 20-foot rule applies at most street corners.
What to ask for
- "Please paint the curb red and post signs to enforce AB 413 daylighting at [intersection]."
- "Please add a leading pedestrian interval at the signal at [intersection]."
- "The crossing at [location] spans [number] lanes. Please add a refuge island or a pedestrian hybrid beacon."
- "Please add lighting at the crossing at [location]. Most pedestrian deaths happen in the dark."
Sources for this page
- Traffic Safety Facts, 2024 Data: Pedestrians (DOT HS 813 818), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (FARS), 2026
- Crosswalk Visibility Enhancements (FHWA-SA-21-049), Federal Highway Administration, 2021
- FHWA Proven Safety Countermeasures (pedestrian crossing pages), Federal Highway Administration, 2021
- Leading Pedestrian Interval (FHWA-SA-21-032), Federal Highway Administration, 2021
- EDC News, June 7, 2018 (STEP), Federal Highway Administration, 2018
- Vehicle Code section 22500 (as amended by AB 413, Stats. 2023, Ch. 652), California Legislature, 2023
- OTS Crash Rankings: Sacramento County, 2023, California Office of Traffic Safety, 2023
Last checked 2026-11-02.