Engineering
Engineering
Pedestrians are an integral part of New York’s transportation system, and proper planning and design of pedestrian facilities are essential for their effective use and operation. This applies to the development of new facilities and to enhancements at existing facilities. Pedestrian facilities must be safe, convenient and easy to use. When designed properly, pedestrian facilities serve to promote pedestrian accessibility, mobility and safety.
Pedestrian facilities design standards in New York are based on guidance set forth by the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials and the Federal Highway Administration. The design information in this section will provide important basic guidance for improving overall conditions for pedestrians in New York State.
Information about NYSDOT design guidance and standards can be found in the Highway Design Manual. Pedestrian Facility Design Guidance is located in the Highway Design Manual, Chapter 18.
Guidance about making predestrian infrastructure conform to the American Disabilities Act can be found on NYSDOT's Sidewalk Standard Sheets.
Federal guidelines can be found on the Federal Highway Administration website.
Enforcement
Enforcement
Whether you’re looking for officer training resources or community-based policing materials, this is the place for law enforcement officials to get information about pedestrian safety.
Find traffic safety resources and grant information for law enforcement agencies, or visit the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s pedestrian safety section. GTSC welcomes grant applications from law enforcement agencies for projects that educate and engage the public on pedestrian safety laws and enforce those laws.
New York State has produced an eight-minute educational video module for law enforcement and the public that focuses on specific Vehicle and Traffic Law (V&T) sections pertaining to pedestrians and drivers.
The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police offers a podcast about the importance of good police reporting of pedestrian crashes. Enhanced reporting techniques support engineering analysis of these locations to help determine why and how pedestrian crashes are happening in order to strategically develop and implement safety fixes.
Tools to help law enforcement officers learn how to encourage good behaviors and discourage bad behaviors when enforcing pedestrian safety laws are available from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers pedestrian safety training materials for law enforcement that can be ordered or viewed online. NHTSA also offers helpful YouTube videos about how to best enforce pedestrian safety laws and why they are so important. Check out “Law Enforcement’s Roll-Call Video: Enforcing Laws for Pedestrian Safety” and “NHTSA Pedestrian Safety: Training for Law Enforcement.” NHTSA’s “Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Operations: A How-To Guide” will assist law enforcement agencies with all facets of patrol planning and implementation.
Education
Education
Keeping pedestrians safe is an important public health issue that the Department of Health is addressing with educational materials for both pedestrians and drivers. Everyone needs to know and follow the rules of the road to make sure that pedestrians can travel safely. It’s important to remember that everyone is a pedestrian.
Watch the Intersection Perfection Video
Watch the Mid-Block Crossing Video
Watch the Hidden Obstructions Video
The Department of Health has worked in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee to develop and distribute See and Be Seen pedestrian safety campaign resources.
The materials are provided here to be downloaded and used as needed. If you would like to order materials please download and mail back the completed form.
Small Posters
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Small Poster (English) |
Small Poster (Spanish) |
Small Poster (Arabic) |
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Small Poster (Burmese) |
Small Poster (Chinese) |
Small Poster (Haitian Creole) |
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Small Poster (Hindu) |
Small Poster (Karen) | Small Poster (Kinyarwanda) |
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Small Poster (Nepali) |
Small Poster (Russian) | Small Poster (Somali) |
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Small Poster (Swahili) |
Small Poster (Vietnamese) | Small Poster (Yiddish) |
Large Posters
Large Poster (English) |
Large Poster (Spanish) | Large Poster (Haitian Creole) |
Large Poster (Russian) |
Large Poster (Yiddish) |
Tip Cards
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Tip Card (English) |
Tip Card (Creole) |
Tip Card (Russian) |
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Tip Card (Spanish) |
Tip Card (Yiddish) |
Tip Card (Vietnamese) |
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Tip Card (Swahili) |
Tip Card (Somali) |
Tip Card (Burmese) |
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Tip Card (Karen) |
Tip Card (Kinyarwanda) |
Tip Card (Napali) |
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Tip Card (Arabic) |
Tip Card (Chinese) |
Tip Card (Hindu) |
Presentations
For Community Leaders: The New York State Pedestrian Safety Action Plan |
For Children: Pedestrian Safety in New York State | For Older Adults: Pedestrian Safety in New York State |
For Educators: Pedestrian Safety Brain Game |
NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law for Pedestrians and Drivers |
Warning Notice
English |
Spanish | Haitian Creole |
Russian |
Yiddish |
Additional Resources
- Sample Press Release: Pedestrian Safety Awareness for Children and Older Adults
- Fact Sheet for Courts
- Window Cling
- Quick Reference V&T Law For Pedestrian Enforcement
- Visibility Bookmark
- Mid-Block Crossing Bookmark
- Distractions Bookmark
- Distractions are Dangerous Bookmark
Use the Pedestrian Safety Corridor Evaluation Guidelines produced by DOT to learn the steps communities can take to make their streets safer for pedestrians.
To learn more about how states can use data and research to improve pedestrian safety, read this report from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, “Everyone Walks. Understanding & Addressing Pedestrian Safety.”