Busy intersections are where people, vehicles, and bikes all meet, often in a hurry. That mix can be dangerous. Across the country, cities are combining street design, signal timing, and smart detection technology to make those crossings safer and more predictable for everyone.
1. Starting With Data, Not Assumptions
Cities are first asking a fundamental question: Where are people most at risk? Instead of relying solely on crash history, agencies are using detection and video analytics to spot hard braking, near misses, and red-light violations at busy intersections. That fuller picture helps traffic engineers prioritize locations where a timing change, new crosswalk, or upgraded detection system can prevent the next crash, not just respond to the last one.
2. Giving People a Head Start in the Crosswalk
Signal timing is one of the most cost-effective tools for pedestrian safety. Many agencies are adding leading pedestrian intervals that give people a few seconds to enter the crosswalk before turning vehicles receive a green light. Others are using exclusive pedestrian phases at locations with heavy foot traffic, schools, or transit hubs so people can cross in all directions while vehicles are stopped. When those timings are coordinated along the corridor, drivers encounter a more consistent pattern, which supports better compliance and fewer last-second decisions at the intersection.
3. Using Smart Detection To Make Pedestrians “Visible”
Traditional push buttons work only when they are pressed and do not reflect real-time conditions. Cities are increasingly turning to advanced detection systems that can recognize pedestrians and cyclists in the crosswalk and at the curb. AI-based detection and actuation systems can extend walk and clearance times if someone is still in the crosswalk, or call the phase even when a person does not reach the button. That helps protect slower walkers, people pushing strollers, or riders crossing with bikes, especially at wide or multi-lane intersections.
4. Coordinating Intersections as Part of a Larger Corridor
The most complex locations are often not isolated intersections, but corridors with multiple signalized crossings close together. Agencies are using smart city traffic management platforms to treat these not as separate signals, but as one system. Detection along the corridor feeds into adaptive timing plans that respond to changing volumes by time of day, event traffic, or weather. When vehicle platoons are better managed and turning movements are more predictable, there are fewer surprise conflicts with people in the crosswalk and better travel time reliability for everyone moving through the corridor.
5. Supporting Field Teams With Better Visibility and Uptime
Pedestrian safety also depends on signals working consistently. Cities are investing in modern, connected traffic cabinets and detection systems that provide status alerts, logs, and performance data back to the traffic operations center. That visibility helps crews spot failing detectors, communication drops, or power issues before they become a dark signal at a busy crossing. Higher system uptime means fewer emergency field calls, less unplanned downtime, and more stable operations for the intersections that carry the most people on foot.
Partnering for Safer Crossings
Reducing pedestrian crashes at busy intersections is not about a single device or a single project. It is about combining better data, people-focused signal timing, and smart detection so that every crossing works more like the community expects it to. Cities that invest in these tools are seeing more predictable operations, fewer close calls, and a safer experience for people walking, biking, and driving through their busiest locations.
For agencies looking to evaluate detection options, coordinate high-volume corridors, or modernize their cabinets and field equipment, the team at Western Systems works alongside traffic engineers to align technology with safety and operations goals. Explore smart detection solutions, such as AI-based actuation and smart city traffic management, from Currux Vision on our website, or connect with our team to start a conversation about your next corridor or intersection project.