The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will upgrade traffic signals to improve pedestrian safety thanks to some new features.
NCDOT plans to add a leading pedestrian interval (LPI) to the traffic signals in the state, according to a press release. The LPI will give pedestrians a three to seven second head start to enter the crosswalk before yielding drivers make the turn.
"This change makes pedestrians more visible for drivers,” said Nick Zinser, NCDOT's Western Region Signals Engineer. "It's a safety enhancement, and it can be done at a low cost by reprogramming the existing equipment at our traffic signals."
LPIs are already in downtown Charlotte and Raleigh, and NCDOT is working to add the feature to all the signalized pedestrian crossings. There are over 3,500 of these intersections. Approximately 20% of those intersections have an LPI, according to NCDOT.
This change comes as a 53-year-old man died after being hit by two cars in Fayetteville on Friday night.
The victim was trying to cross an unguarded portion of the crosswalk and was hit by a car, according to authorities.
Another vehicle also hit the victim and left the scene before first responders arrived.
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Source: ABC 11, WXII 12, Wilmington WECT
