Countdown and accessible pedestrian signals: how crossing time is shared with everyone

What timers, tones and buttons tell walkers, and how to ask for a signal review

Safety Behind the Wheel Foundationdrivewithcare.org

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026

For community leaders and schools16 min read

Key takeaways from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

A countdown signal shows the seconds left to finish crossing, but it only helps people who can see it and read the number [5, 14].
An accessible pedestrian signal (APS) shares the walk signal through sound and vibration, so people who are blind or have low vision know when the walk interval starts [2].
Research on countdown timers is mixed. Some studies found fewer pedestrian collisions, one found no clear change, and one found drivers speeding up when they could see the count [7, 8, 9, 11].
Timing, device location and sound settings must be designed together. A clear tone at the wrong spot, or a good button with too little crossing time, still leaves people stranded [2, 13, 15].
Only the agency or owner in charge of a signal, guided by a traffic engineer, should install or change it [3].
Residents can ask for a review and describe what they see, hear and feel at the crossing.

Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from U.S. Access Board accessibility guidelines, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rules and guidance, including the federal traffic control manual, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data and published research on countdown and accessible signals. Every source is listed at the end.

Why the message on a pedestrian signal matters

In 2024, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in U.S. traffic collisions, and more than 71,000 were injured [1]. A signal is an information system. When its message does not reach someone, that person has to guess.

A few terms help here. A pedestrian signal head is the box that shows a walking person and an upraised hand [2]. The walking person marks the walk interval, when people may step off the curb. The flashing upraised hand marks the change interval, also called the clearance interval, when people already in the crosswalk finish crossing [5].

This guide covers two features that carry timing information: countdown displays and accessible pedestrian signals. For what each signal means under state law, see our guide to pedestrian and crosswalk laws by state.

What a countdown signal does

A countdown signal adds a number to the pedestrian signal head. The number shows the seconds left in the flashing hand period [5]. It helps a walker answer one hard question: do I have time to start? The countdown does not change the light. It only reveals the time already set.

The 2009 edition of the federal traffic manual, known as the MUTCD, required a countdown on pedestrian signal heads at crosswalks where the change interval ran longer than 7 seconds. The count was to begin with the flashing hand, and not run during the walk interval or the red clearance interval [5]. A 2018 research team noted that the manual then required countdowns at new signal installations [8].

Those details come from the 2009 edition. The current manual is the 11th Edition, now posted with a Revision 1 [4]. Ask your agency which edition it follows and what that edition says about countdowns.

The 2009 manual set clearance time using a walking speed of 3.5 feet per second [5]. That is about 2.4 miles per hour. On a 60 foot crossing, a person at that speed needs about 17 seconds.

Countdowns are not the only timing tool. A leading pedestrian interval (LPI) gives people a head start of 3 to 7 seconds before drivers get a green light [6]. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) links LPIs to 13% fewer pedestrian vehicle collisions at intersections, and says they cost very little when only the signal timing changes [6].

Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

What a walker sees and what an accessible signal adds

Signal phase	What most people see	What an APS adds
Walk interval	Walking person	Walk tone and button vibration, for the same length of time [2]
Change interval	Flashing hand, with a countdown if installed [5]	No walk tone or vibration, because those cues run during the walk interval only [2]

Read together, these rules carry a lesson. A person who relies on sound and touch learns when the walk interval begins, but does not get the countdown that sighted walkers see. So a countdown cannot stand in for an accessible signal.

What the research says about countdown timers

Results differ by place and by method.

In Detroit, a study of 362 treated sites over 120 months found that countdown timers cut pedestrian collisions to about one third of earlier levels [7].
A Michigan study compared 107 intersections with countdowns and push buttons against 96 with countdowns and no buttons. Where buttons came with the countdown, total pedestrian crashes fell 29% [8]. Fatal or injury pedestrian crashes fell 30% [8]. Without buttons, the study found no significant change [8].
In Charlotte, North Carolina, a before and after study at 106 intersections found a drop in pedestrian crashes that was not statistically significant, meaning too small to rule out chance. All collisions combined did fall by a significant amount [9].

Drivers can read the numbers too. In Florida, a study found fewer total, property damage and rear end collisions after countdowns went in, but no clear change in injury or angle crashes [10]. A Montreal study of 5,000 vehicles found that drivers approached about 11 kilometers per hour faster, roughly 7 miles per hour, when the countdown was visible to them [11].

People also decide in the moment. In one field study of people who arrived during the flashing hand phase, 85.2% chose to cross rather than wait [12]. About 79% of the pedestrians in that study did not finish before the light turned red [12]. A countdown gives people better information for that choice. It cannot make anyone wait.

What accessible pedestrian signals do

The federal accessibility guidelines for public rights of way define an accessible pedestrian signal as a device that shares signal timing in ways that do not depend on vision. These include audible tones, speech messages and vibrating surfaces [2]. The U.S. Access Board issues these guidelines [2].

An APS usually sits in the same housing as the push button. The guidelines describe these parts:

A push button with a tactile arrow. The high contrast arrow points the way the crosswalk runs, so a person can feel which crossing the button controls [2].
A locator tone. This short sound, 0.15 seconds or less, repeats once a second to help a person find the button [2].
An audible walk indication. It is a percussive tone, like a fast tick, that repeats 8 to 10 times a second [2].
A vibrating button. The button shakes during the walk interval, which helps people who cannot hear the tone [2].
An extended press. Where an agency adds extra features, a press of one second or more can trigger them. A shorter press gives only the walk timing and cue [2].

Sound has to fit its surroundings. The locator tone must carry only 6 to 12 feet from the button, or to the building line if that is closer. Both tones must respond to background noise, with a ceiling of 100 decibels (A weighted) [2]. The walk tone must last as long as the walk interval [2]. If an agency shortens the walk time, the tone must shorten with it. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation urges every signal owner to check the tones whenever the timing changes.

Finding the crossing, not just the signal

Knowing when to cross is one job. Finding the crossing and staying inside it is another. A tone that solves one may not solve the other.

A study of 56 blind participants at four intersections, in Charlotte and Portland, Oregon, tested this. The authors noted that the type of APS usually installed in the United States had not helped people find crosswalks, locate buttons or get direction. They tested a design that sends the tone from the far end of the crosswalk. It helped only slightly at first. After revisions, it improved four measures, including starting inside the crosswalk and ending inside it [15].

Location matters for that reason. The guidelines set these rules for where the button goes [2]:

A button must be within 5 feet of the side of the curb ramp run, or of the farthest crosswalk line’s edge.
It must be between 1.5 and 10 feet from the edge of the curb or pavement.
Its face must be parallel to the crosswalk it controls.
Two buttons on the same corner must be 10 feet or more apart.

Timing: the part you cannot see

Sound and touch tell a person when to start. Timing decides whether they can finish. The federal accessibility guidelines call for clearance time based on a walking speed of 3.5 feet per second or slower, and a walk interval of at least 7 seconds [2].

Many people walk slower than that. A 2025 study analyzed the walking speeds of 1,110 older adults with mobility limits. Only 17 of them, or 1.5%, walked fast enough at a comfortable pace to cross during a signal timed for 1.2 meters per second [13]. Their average speed was 0.77 meters per second, about 2.5 feet per second [13]. That is slower than the 3.5 feet per second in the federal guidelines [2].

For people with low vision, the display itself matters. In a lab test, participants with simulated 20/100 vision picked out the walk and don’t walk symbols more than 87% of the time [14]. Reading the countdown number was hard for them, with correct answers from 6.5% to 58.5% depending on symbol size, crossing length and background [14]. At simulated 20/300, reading the countdown was close to impossible [14].

An LPI also helps here. FHWA says it benefits pedestrians who are slower to start into the intersection [6].

Three decisions that must agree

A sound design review treats timing, accessibility features and location as one package. If one changes, the others may need to change too. A reasonable order is to start with the crossing: its length, its lanes and who uses it. Next check the timing. Then place the button and speaker. Last, test the sound at busy and quiet times.

Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

Three signal decisions that must agree

Decision	What it sets	What can go wrong
Timing	Walk interval, clearance time, countdown	Too little time, even with a clear signal [2, 13]
Accessibility	Tone, vibration, tactile arrow	A cue that does not match the walk interval [2]
Location	Button and speaker position, ramp alignment	A person cannot find the button or the crossing [2, 15]

Who chooses, buys and installs these signals

Public signals are the job of the agency that owns the road, such as a city, county or state transportation department. The federal rule says the MUTCD is the national standard for all traffic control devices on any street, highway or bicycle trail open to public travel [3]. That includes roads within shopping centers, airports, sports arenas and similar sites [3]. States and other federal agencies must adopt changes to the MUTCD within two years of the effective date of the final rule [3].

The accessibility guidelines are a separate layer. They apply to pedestrian facilities in the public right of way to the extent required by federal regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act [2]. They cover new pedestrian facilities and altered parts of existing ones [2]. Ask the agency which rules apply.

Typical buyers are road agencies, municipalities, campuses and private road owners. Most hire a traffic engineering firm to study the crossing and prepare a design. They then buy equipment through an infrastructure supplier and hire an approved installation contractor. Residents and businesses should not add buttons or tones to a public signal, since a device out of step with the timing sends the wrong message.

Using the signals well, and keeping them working

If you are walking, press the button even where the walk signal comes up on its own. The guidelines say the button activates the accessible features and, where it applies, the walk interval [2]. If the flashing hand is up, do not start. People already in the crosswalk should keep going.

If you are driving, expect people to start before your light turns green at crossings with a leading interval [6]. Wait for slow walkers to clear your lane and the next one, and skip the horn.

For upkeep, ask the agency who checks the devices and how often. Useful checks include:

Buttons that press and respond.
Tones that still match the walk interval after any timing change [2].
Tactile arrows that are intact and still point along the crosswalk [2].
Ramps and buttons that stay lined up after repaving or sidewalk work.

Common mistakes include:

A walk interval under 7 seconds [2].
A button more than 5 feet from the ramp or crosswalk line, or two buttons on one corner closer than 10 feet [2].
A countdown that runs during the walk interval, under the 2009 rule [5].
Treating a countdown as a replacement for sound and vibration [2, 14].
Expecting a tone to guide people to the crosswalk when it was built only to signal the walk [15].

How to ask for a signal review

Find out who owns the signal. Public works or the transportation department can tell you. On a campus or business park, start with facilities or property management.
Note the exact location, the time of day, and what happened. For example: “The tone stops before I reach the far curb.”
File a written request through the agency’s website, request line or 311 service. Keep the reference number.
Ask for a signal timing review for the crossing. Mention the people who use it, such as older adults, children and people with disabilities.
Ask whether accessible pedestrian signals are installed, and whether the buttons, arrows and tones follow the federal accessibility guidelines.
Follow up in writing. Ask for a date for the review and what interim steps are possible.

Frequently asked questions

Does a countdown timer make a crossing safer?

It may, but the evidence is mixed. Detroit and Michigan studies found fewer pedestrian crashes [7, 8]. A Charlotte study found no significant change in pedestrian collisions [9]. A Montreal study found drivers approached faster when they could see the count [11]. A countdown works best as one part of a full timing design.

What do the ticking sounds mean?

A tick that repeats about once a second is a locator tone. It helps you find the button [2]. A faster tone, 8 to 10 ticks a second, is the walk signal [2]. Some devices also use speech messages [2]. If the sounds seem unclear at your crossing, ask the agency to review it.

Do I have to press the button every time?

Pressing is the safe habit. At some crossings the walk signal comes up on its own, but the guidelines still say the button activates the accessible signals [2]. A press of one second or more may turn on extras if the agency set them up [2].

Can my neighborhood or business add a countdown or pedestrian signal?

Not on a public road. The agency in charge must select and install signals. The MUTCD applies to roads open to public travel, including those within shopping centers, airports and arenas [3]. Owners of those sites should hire a traffic engineer.

Is a countdown the same as a leading pedestrian interval?

No. A countdown shows the seconds left to cross [5]. An LPI gives people a 3 to 7 second head start before drivers get a green light [6].

The bottom line

Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation

Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages communities to review signal timing, buttons and tones together so every person can finish crossing. Countdown timers and accessible pedestrian signals both share timing, but in different ways. A countdown tells sighted walkers how much time is left. An accessible signal tells people who rely on sound and touch when the walk begins. Neither replaces the other, and both depend on enough time and a device in the right place.

You can help. Note what you see, hear and feel at your crossing, and ask the road owner to review the timing, the buttons and the tones as one package.

Sources and further reading

1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrian Safety: Prevent Pedestrian Crashes. Updated: date not shown on page (accessed October 2026). Data year: 2024. nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety
2Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (U.S. Access Board). 36 CFR Part 1190 — Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, last updated October 5, 2026. ecfr.gov/current/title-36/chapter-XI/part-1190
3Federal Highway Administration. 23 CFR 655.603 — Standards. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, last updated October 2, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-655.603
4Federal Highway Administration. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Updated: date not shown on page (accessed October 2026). mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov
5Federal Highway Administration. Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 2009 Edition, Chapter 4E: Pedestrian Control Features (archived edition with revisions). Published 2009. mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/htm/2009r1r2/part4/part4e.htm
6Federal Highway Administration. Leading Pedestrian Interval (FHWA-SA-21-032). Updated: date not shown on page (accessed October 2026). highways.dot.gov/…/leading-pedestrian-interval
7Huitema BE, Van Houten R, Manal H. Time-series intervention analysis of pedestrian countdown timer effects. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2014;72:23-31. Published July 2014 (PubMed record). Data year: 120-month study period in Detroit (calendar years not stated in the abstract). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25003967
8Atta Boateng R, Kwigizile V, Oh J-S. A comparison of safety benefits of pedestrian countdown signals with and without pushbuttons in Michigan. Traffic Injury Prevention 2018;19(6):588-593. Published May 2018 (PubMed record). Data year: 2004 to 2016 crash data (five years before and five years after installation). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29641260
9Pulugurtha SS, Desai A, Pulugurtha NM. Are pedestrian countdown signals effective in reducing crashes? Traffic Injury Prevention 2010;11(6):632-641. Published December 2010 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21128194
10Kitali AE, Sando T. A full Bayesian approach to appraise the safety effects of pedestrian countdown signals to drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2017;106:327-335. Published July 2017 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28709110
11Do W, Saunier N, Miranda-Moreno L. An empirical analysis of the effect of pedestrian signal countdown timer on driver behavior at signalized intersections. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2022;180:106906. Published December 2022 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36470159
12Zhuang X, Wu C, Ma S. Cross or wait? Pedestrian decision making during clearance phase at signalized intersections. Accident Analysis and Prevention 2017;111:115-124. Published December 2017 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29197691
13Western MJ, Withall J, Sheppard R, Greaves C, Hillsdon M, Stathi A. Why didn’t the senior citizen cross the road? Gait speed in community-dwelling older adults with mobility limitations relative to pedestrian crossing times. Age and Ageing 2025;54(12). Published November 2025 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41354090
14Scott AC, Atkins KN, Bentzen BL, Barlow JM. Perception of Pedestrian Signals by Pedestrians with Varying Levels of Vision. Transportation Research Record 2012;2299. Published 2012 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24391305
15Barlow JM, Scott AC, Bentzen BL. Audible Beaconing with Accessible Pedestrian Signals. AER Journal: Research and Practice in Visual Impairment and Blindness 2009;2(4):149-158. Published 2009 (PubMed record). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20622978

This article reflects the safety priorities of accessible crossings and pedestrian signal timing. It is general education, not legal, medical or engineering advice. Standards and manual editions change, so verify details with official sources. For help with a specific crossing, contact the agency that owns the road, such as your city or county public works department or your state transportation department. Reviewed October 2026.

Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Countdown and accessible pedestrian signals: how crossing time is shared with everyone.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/countdown-accessible-pedestrian-signals/. Reviewed October 2026.

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Countdown and accessible pedestrian signals: how crossing time is shared with everyone

Why the message on a pedestrian signal matters

What a countdown signal does

What the research says about countdown timers

What accessible pedestrian signals do

Finding the crossing, not just the signal

Timing: the part you cannot see

Three decisions that must agree

Who chooses, buys and installs these signals

Using the signals well, and keeping them working

How to ask for a signal review

Frequently asked questions

Does a countdown timer make a crossing safer?

What do the ticking sounds mean?

Do I have to press the button every time?

Can my neighborhood or business add a countdown or pedestrian signal?

Is a countdown the same as a leading pedestrian interval?

The bottom line

Sources and further reading

Special thanks to our contributors

Have professional expertise, firsthand experience, or a perspective that could make this resource better?

Your contribution; thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with us. We truly appreciate your help in making this resource better.

About you; help readers see the expertise behind your contribution.

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Terms and policies

Countdown and accessible pedestrian signals: how crossing time is shared with everyone

Why the message on a pedestrian signal matters

What a countdown signal does

What the research says about countdown timers

What accessible pedestrian signals do

Finding the crossing, not just the signal

Timing: the part you cannot see

Three decisions that must agree

Who chooses, buys and installs these signals

Using the signals well, and keeping them working

How to ask for a signal review

Frequently asked questions

Does a countdown timer make a crossing safer?

What do the ticking sounds mean?

Do I have to press the button every time?

Can my neighborhood or business add a countdown or pedestrian signal?

Is a countdown the same as a leading pedestrian interval?

The bottom line

Related articles

Sources and further reading

Special thanks to our contributors

Have professional expertise, firsthand experience, or a perspective that could make this resource better?

Your contribution; thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with us. We truly appreciate your help in making this resource better.

About you; help readers see the expertise behind your contribution.

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