Launch arrives during National Pedestrian Safety Month, at the start of the darkest months to walk

BROWN DEER, Wis., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TAPCO, a leading provider of roadway safety technology for state and local transportation agencies, today launched the Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Sign, a backlit LED sign that turns on automatically at dusk so drivers spot crosswalks sooner in order to yield. The newest addition to TAPCO’s Smart Crosswalk Portfolio gives agencies a simple, solar-ready way to close the nighttime visibility gap at midblock crossings, school zones and campuses, helping make close calls the crash that never happened. The launch comes during National Pedestrian Safety Month and less than two weeks before clocks fall back in November, the start of the darkest months to walk.

Drivers struck and killed a projected 6,732 people walking in 2025, an average of 18 per day, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Nearly a third of pedestrian deaths occur October through December as days get shorter, and nearly three in four happen away from intersections, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). More than three-quarters (76.5%) of pedestrian deaths happen after dark and with standard crosswalk signs depending on headlights and reflective sheeting, pedestrians are left least visible exactly when risk is highest.

“Most pedestrian deaths happen in the dark, at crossings where drivers don’t expect to stop,” said TAPCO President and Chief Executive Officer, Eric Stangel. “When a driver sees the crosswalk early, they slow down, they yield and the person crossing gets home safely. It’s the crash that never happened, that nobody ever hears about, and it’s the idea behind everything TAPCO builds. This sign gives agencies an affordable way to bring that protection to more crossings, starting with the ones that need it most.”

The Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Sign uses internal LED technology to backlight the sign, so it shines on its own without relying on headlights or reflective sheeting. Ambient light sensing turns it on automatically from dusk-to-dawn, with no scheduling or manual switching, and gives drivers visibility up to 300 feet out. On its own, the sign keeps the crosswalk visible all night. Paired with TAPCO’s RRFBs, it warns drivers the moment someone steps in. Signs run on solar or AC power, connect to TAPCO’s remote cloud hub, and come in W11-2 and RA-4 options that meet U.S. and Canada MUTCD standards.

“The Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Sign represents how we think about pedestrian safety: not as a single device, but as an entire driver experience,” said TAPCO Senior Product Owner, Aleischa Kronshagen. “We’re focused on solutions that make crossings more visible, intuitive and actionable, with the goal of helping communities create environments where the right response is easier to recognize.”

With backlit signage already available from TAPCO in Stop, Do Not Enter and Wrong-Way, the technology has proven successful in a variety of applications. By increasing visibility at poorly lit locations, signs like the Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Sign have been proven to increase legibility distance by as much as 100% (Texas A&M TTI).

The sign joins TAPCO’s Smart Crosswalk Portfolio, which offers four levels of technology so agencies can match each crossing to its risk and budget: a 24/7 flashing LED sign, the Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Sign, a full crosswalk system and a smart crosswalk with added features. Those include a crosswalk illuminator that lights the person crossing, radar-based passive detection that activates warnings without a button press and remote management that tracks activation counts and system health. The launch follows TAPCO’s September announcement that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation deployed 14 Wrong-Way Detection Trailers, with Texas and Arkansas Departments of Transportation also moving forward, as part of TAPCO’s wrong-way portfolio built around the same goal: the crash that never happened.

The Illuminated Pedestrian Crossing Signs are available to order now, with both solar and AC power options available for flexible configuration. To view images and videos of the sign and to learn more, visit our media kit or https://www.tapconet.com/product/illuminated-pedestrian-crossing-signs.

About TAPCO
TAPCO is a leading provider of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) designed to enhance road safety and increase road and vehicle connectivity. Headquartered in Brown Deer, WI and founded in 1956, TAPCO manufactures innovative ITS systems and software alongside value-added integration and maintenance services. TAPCO has established itself as a trusted partner in improving road safety outcomes with ITS solutions for states, communities and businesses. For further information, please visit TAPCO’s website and follow on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE TAPCO