A study of Minnesota intersection crossings found that speed, signage, and wide, multi-lane roads strongly correlate with drivers yielding to pedestrians.

Specifically, Guidelines for Safer Pedestrian Crossings: Understanding the Factors that Positively Influence Vehicle Yielding to Pedestrians at Unsignalized Intersections noted three features when it comes to drivers yielding to pedestrians:

-- Vehicles traveling 25 MPH or more were significantly less likely to yield than those traveling slower;
-- Drivers may be twice as likely to yield at intersections where signs are posted; and,
-- Lower yielding rates were noted on wider roads and multi-lane roads.

Only 4 percent of pedestrians began crossing before a sufficient vehicle gap, according to the study, and more than 35 percent waited to cross even after a gap in traffic.

Results are based on more than 3,300 crossings at 18 Minnesota intersections in fall 2020 and summer 2021, using custom-built devices that stored about two weeks’ worth of video data. The study was sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB),
The study made recommendations to encourage drivers to stop for pedestrians at unsignalized intersections, including:

-- Consider geometric features of the road;
-- Limit road width, including pedestrian crossing markings;
-- Add signs at crossings;
-- Limit speeds with roadway features; and,
-- Look at adjacent land-use context.

The complete 91-page research report is available here.