In recent years pedestrian safety has become an important issue. There are approximately 5,000 pedestrian deaths per year in the United States. Despite most states having some type of law that requires motorists to yield to pedestrians who are in a marked crosswalk, a recent FHWA study found that marked crosswalks are not safer than unmarked crosswalks. With the movement toward livable, walk-able communities and traffic calming, there is an ever increasing desire for more effective treatments to improve pedestrian safety.

There is a lot of interest in enhanced treatments for mid-block crosswalks. One example of these treatments is our "Yield to Pedestrian" sign placed in the roadway. Yield to Pedestrian signs have the potential to substantially increase the percentage of motorists yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks adjacent to the sign.

We are very pleased that the Green Cross system has received approval for experimental use in the State of Washington during the 2000/2001 school year (refer to HOTO-1 04/11/00). For use outside of Washington state, we recommend that prior to installation the local governing road agency submit a letter to the FHWA requesting permission to install these units on local roadways.

The Green Cross system incorporates a unique "School Zone Delineator" – our Safety Post – that, if considered a "portable sign", would not be in conformance with the current version of the MUTCD. We have drafted a template below which you may wish to use as your submittal letter to the FHWA. Please direct any additional questions you might have to hwysales@filtrona.com. Thank you for your interest in the Green Cross!