ELTEC and 511 Technologies Announces IoTraffic Systems
ELTEC and 511 Technologies announce strategic partnership to create internet connected traffic systems Special to the news messenger Thursday, ELTEC and 511 Technologies announced a strategic partnership to provide advanced cloud-connected products for the traffic and warning system industries. The companies will collaborate to deliver an entire line of new IoTrafficTM products with a wide range of radio communication options that provide connectivity to the Internet as well as from…
continue readingRRFBs : Back from the Brink
On December 21, 2017 the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced the termination of the Interim Approval of the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) (IA-11). The FHWA prohibits the use of patented devices and learned there were several patents on the RRFB device. This was a blow to the Traffic Safety Industry as studies have proven that the RRFB was more effective than standard round beacons in driver yield rates (approx. 80%-95%). In March, a third-party company purchased and then…
continue readingPedestrian Hybrid Beacons – Solving Pedestrian-Traffic Interactions
Small towns have less vehicles, which generally means fewer traffic incidents compared to big cities. Yet these towns still have bodily injury accidents especially to pedestrians. Crossing the street can be even more dangerous in some areas because of fewer street lights. In fact, our local fire department’s ambulances are frequently called for ‘hit and run’ incidences. Neighborhoods with kids bicycling, families walking to and from parks, runners out for night exercise, all increase the likelihood…
continue readingThe HAWK Crosswalk – Innovative Pedestrian Safety
With many drivers rushing down roads, eager to get to their appointments and destinations on time, the importance of ensuring a safe relationship between drivers and pedestrians is of highest priority. Alarmingly, pedestrians made up 14% of all traffic deaths in 2015. Sadly, those statistics remain on par with previous years’ statistics. Traffic warning signals are used to let motorists know that they need to watch for pedestrians; walkers, bicyclists, and school children crossing the street.…
continue reading“TIGERS” Made Safer with HAWK Crosswalk
Frenship High School in Wolfforth, TX installed a solar powered HAWK/hybrid pedestrian crosswalk. Early one morning before dawn a student using the un-signalized crosswalk from the parking lot across from the school was struck and killed by a truck. The school principle, city manager, and other city officials along with the local TxDOT district worked together to find a solution. Since the pedestrian crossing is on a 5-lane (including a turn lane) state road (45 MPH), TxDOT determined a Hybrid…
continue readingNew RRFB WW+S Flash Pattern (IMSA Jan/Feb ’15)
By Susan Marshall Electrotechnics Corporation (ELTEC) On July 25, 2014 the FHWA approved a “new and improved” flash pattern for RRFB (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons) uncon-trolled pedestrian crossings. The new flash pattern is based on a flash cycle length of 800 milliseconds (ms) equaling 75 flash cycles per minute. It’s referenced as “WW+S” (Wig-Wag plus Simultaneous). The sequence is: Left beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms Right beacon ON 50 ms Both beacons OFF 50 ms Left…
continue readingWalkable, Bike-able Summit
Toby Whitmore, Technical Sales Representative for Signal Service On May 7th, Signal Service based in West Chester, PA participated in Delaware’s “Walkable, Bike-able Summit”. Pedestrian safety (walking and/or bicycling) was a primary focus. Signal Service displayed the extremely effective Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) pedestrian crossing for uncontrolled crosswalks. According to Toby Whitmore, Technical Sales Representative for Signal Service, “it was a big hit. We got lots of…
continue readingHawk/ Hybrid Pedestrian Crossing System
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Using a Rapid Flashing Beacon Crossing
To help improve pedestrian and driver safety, this instructional video produced by the City of Springfield, Oregon shows how pedestrians use a Rapid Flashing Beacon crossing and how drivers need to observe the lights.
continue readingRapid Flashing Beacons
New crosswalk enhancements that have been installed are pedestrian-activated rapid-flashing warning lights, sometimes called rapid flash signals or RRFB.
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