The effects of advance stop lines and sign prompts on pedestrian safety in a crosswalk on a multilane highway.

The team picked a busy multilane crosswalk with lots of near-misses.

They painted white stop lines 30 feet earlier and added a small sign that read STOP HERE FOR PEDESTRIANS.

Using an ABAB reversal design, they turned the treatment on and off to see if drivers really stopped sooner.

When the advance lines and sign were in place, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts dropped by about 80%.

The drop happened quickly and returned when the treatment was re-installed, showing clear control.

Hochmuth et al. (2020) extended this idea. They swapped the painted lines for gateway signs and still got more drivers to yield. Their twist: yielding spread to a nearby crosswalk that had no signs, showing generalization.

Van Houten et al. (2005) used a similar low-cost sign tweak. They phased exit-sign changes instead of flipping them instantly, cutting dangerous last-second lane cuts. Both studies keep the theme: simple roadside prompts can steer driver behavior fast.

Bennett et al. (1973) proved the principle works outside traffic too. A handbill prompt at a grocery door boosted returnable-bottle choices by 25%. The pattern is clear: a cheap, well-placed cue can nudge public behavior without fines or lectures.

If you consult with cities or schools on safety, show them this 80% conflict cut. One bucket of paint and one metal sign can outrank expensive flashing lights. Push for advance stop lines at any multilane crossing your clients use; measure conflicts for a week, add the treatment, then measure again. You will have fast, visible data to share with stakeholders and a low-cost fix that saves lives.