Elderly pedestrians often report difficulty completing crossings in the time estimated by traffic lights, and reduced walking speed while commuting may be associated with negative health outcomes. It is also worth highlighting the scarcity of Brazilian studies, which reinforces the need for investigations aimed at this topic of interest.

To analyze the gait speed of community-dwelling elderly; to verify the association of socioeconomic, clinical and health factors, considering the regulated crossing time on roads with pedestrian traffic lights and alternative cutoff points for walking speed.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 411 elderly people (70.15±7.25 years old) from Macapá, Amapá. Socioeconomic, clinical and health variables were collected using a structured form. Walking speed was assessed using the usual walking speed test, which is among the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) tests (time to walk 4 meters). For the analysis of the established time (<1.2 m/s) for crossing roads with traffic lights for pedestrians, data consulted from the city's traffic departments and alternative cutoff points (<1.1 m/s; <1 .0 m/s and 0.9 m/s). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics from the binary logistic regression model (p<0.05 and 95%CI).

The mean walking speed time was 0.99±0.29 m/s. A total of 123 traffic lights were recorded in the city of Macapá, of which (56.1%) are pedestrian traffic lights; most roads (87.8%) do not have indications for crossing; 52% do not have a crosswalk demarcated on the road; and 80.5% do not have lowering or adaptation of the track at the crossing point. Most of the elderly (76.4%) presented a walking speed lower than the crossing time established by the regulation of roads with traffic lights for pedestrians (<1.2 m/s); and when considering alternative cutoff points, it remained unfavorable for most elderly people, except for the <0.9m/s classification. The logistic regression model indicated that elderly women, those of advanced age, with dependence for instrumental activities of daily living and with reduced muscle strength probably walk for less time than established by the traffic department (<1.2 m/s) and at alternative cutoff points.

The current weather pattern does not promote safety and exposes the elderly population to risks when crossing roads with traffic lights. The implementation of a time standard that considers the specificities of the elderly population in this city becomes fundamental.

Through the data obtained from this study, it will be possible to suggest a revision of the standards established for carrying out crossings in order to consider the specificities of the elderly population, as well as to favor their insertion safely in the place where they live, providing conditions that allow their autonomy and integration into society.