Engineer
Pedestrian safety is shaped not only by behavior, but also by how the crossing environment is designed, built, and perceived. In Best Foot Forward, engineering refers to practical, data-guided improvements that help drivers see, understand, and respond to people crossing the street.
When combined with education and enforcement, engineering enhancements can make crosswalks more visible, understandable, and safer for everyone.
What Engineering Means in Best Foot Forward
Best Foot Forward uses program data to inform low-cost, high-impact engineering countermeasure recommendations to improve safety at crosswalks. Our recommendations are context-sensitive and adhere to applicable standards and regulations.
How We Use Data to Inform Engineering
Before recommending any changes, Best Foot Forward:
Inventories crosswalk characteristics
to understand baseline conditions
Collects driver yield data
to see how drivers are currently behaving
Analyzes patterns to identify
whether visibility or signage may be factors
Engineering recommendations are based on observed conditions and are tailored to support measurable improvements in driver yielding.
Interested in Our Program?
Interested in learning more about Best Foot Forward’s engineering approach? Contact us to start a conversation.
Explore the Best Foot Forward Framework
Best Foot Forward improves crosswalk safety through a coordinated approach that brings together education, enforcement, engineering, and evaluation. Each strategy plays a distinct role, and they are most effective when used together.
Educate
Building awareness and understanding of crosswalk safety.


Enforce
Supporting visible, education-focused traffic safety efforts.
Evaluate
Measuring driver behavior and tracking progress over time.


