Final answer:
Traffic signals play a crucial role in ensuring pedestrian safety by regulating the flow of traffic and reducing the need for pedestrians to navigate through moving vehicles. They become particularly necessary in high-traffic areas with increasing vehicle presence due to nearby developments and events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pedestrian safety at intersections is a significant concern, particularly around high-traffic areas such as schools and campuses. The installation of traffic signals is a measure that can greatly enhance the safety and regulation of pedestrian and vehicular movement. Such signals are designed to control the flow of traffic and provide clear directives to pedestrians and drivers alike, helping to mitigate the risk of accidents.
One of the critical reasons to install traffic signals is to manage the increasing traffic volume. Over recent years, developments such as the opening of manufacturing plants, increased business activities, and changes to traffic routing for major events have contributed to the heightened traffic. Moreover, the presence of traffic signals can act as a deterrent for vehicles that otherwise might speed through the intersection, ignoring the posted speed limit. Storming through a signal is much harder without risking a traffic violation, thus encouraging safer driving behavior.
In addition to controlling vehicle speed and flow, traffic signals provide a structured opportunity for pedestrians to cross intersections safely. Instead of negotiating with vehicular traffic, pedestrians can rely on signals to indicate the appropriate times to cross, which is particularly beneficial in scenarios where large vehicles require additional space for making turns, as marked by white lines on the roads. These considerations are crucial for reducing the hazards associated with shared road spaces, particularly in busy urban environments or near educational institutions.