What to Know About Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Whether you’re a driver, pedestrian, or citizen sitting comfortably at home awaiting a loved one’s return, roadway safety is essential. Vehicle versus pedestrian accidents often cause severe injury or death to the pedestrian. On average, one pedestrian was killed every 88 minutes in a traffic crash in 20171. Innovations that increase pedestrian roadway safety increase everyone’s sense of security. One relatively new system designed to improve pedestrian visibility and safety that has received…
continue readingWhat Every Pedestrian Should Know About Warning Lights
Although roadways are meant to be shared by everyone, sharing the road with motor vehicles can be dangerous for pedestrians. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), pedestrian fatalities in 2018 reached a three-decade high. Young children and senior adults are the most likely to perish in these tragic encounters. GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins remarked that “In the past decade, pedestrian deaths have risen 35%. The alarm bells continue to sound on this issue; it’s…
continue readingBenefits of Using a HAWK Pedestrian Crossing System
Although roadways are often thought of as car-specific, they are meant to be shared by vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. It doesn’t always feel that way to a pedestrian trying to cross a busy street, even with a painted intersection. Some drivers seem to think they own the road, while others appear oblivious to both the painted crosswalk and the pedestrian. Pedestrians, too, can be distracted or overconfident that they have been seen and have the right-of-way. Driver/pedestrian encounters…
continue readingSolar Powered Pedestrian Crossings - Everything You Need to Know
In the hustle and bustle of daily life, people tend to forget the little things. Some of those little things are actually big things, however. Focusing on where you’re going and arriving safely seems like a given, but it’s not. When everyone is busy with their thoughts and technology, it’s all too easy to overlook an oncoming car or a pedestrian who is about to step out into the street. Improving visibility and compliance for drivers to increase pedestrian safety requires more than a simple painted…
continue readingELTEC 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 reading