RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina Department of Transportation is improving pedestrian safety through upgrading traffic signals.
According to a Friday press release, NCDOT is adding a ‘leading pedestrian interval’ or LPI, to its traffic signals. This gives pedestrians a three to seven-second head start to enter the crosswalk before drivers who must yield before making a turn.
“This change makes pedestrians more visible for drivers,” Nick Zinser, NCDOT’s Western Region Signals Engineer, said. “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 common in downtown Charlotte and Raleigh.
The press release said the department is working to add the feature at all signalized pedestrian crossings in the state.
There are over 3,500 intersections that have these crossings in North Carolina. After adopting a new traffic signal policy earlier this year, NCDOT estimates that 20% of those intersections now have an LPI.