A local study found some drivers are having trouble with the rules around these new crosswalks.

It seems some Ottawa drivers still don't know how pedestrain crossovers work, but they will have to learn quickly, as the city's transportation committee has passed a motion that would see more of them built.

In September 2015, the city launched a three-year pilot project that looked into the effectiveness of three types of pedestrian crossovers.

"Some of them are just a static road sign, some of them you have a button and there are flashing lights on the side of the road, and there are some where it overhangs the road," explained Transportation Committe chair Stephen Blais.

In all cases, the study found that only 80 per cent of drivers knew how to treat these crossovers.

"Typically at a stop sign, once a pedestrian has passed in front of your car and it's safe to proceed and you have the right of way, you can proceed," said Blais. "At a PXO, you have to wait until the pedestrian has fully crossed the entire width of the road, even if they're not immediately in front of you."

Councillor Blais said that people will have to get used to them.

As of 2018, there were 140 pedestrian crossovers across the city. The goal moving forward, would be to see a new pedestrian crossover in each ward, every year.

The cost to add a pedestrian crossover ranges from $2,500 to $56,000, depending on the type.

Blais explained that he expects new suburban developments will see these added automatically as part of the builder's plans.