beacon40

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has sponsored a new research project for improving pedestrian safety at uncontrolled crosswalks.

Research is being carried out on a wide range of traffic control devices, with an aim to enhance driver awareness and improve their yielding to pedestrians.

The rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) has shown good results in comparison with other devices.

"Several agencies are interested in having the RRFB added to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices."

Texas A&M Transportation Institute's (TTI's) Roadway Design Programme manager Kay Fitzpatrick said: "The RRFB is very effective.

"A study conducted about ten years ago found that you had to have a device that showed a red indication for drivers to yield at a high enough rate to be considered acceptable.

"Now with the RRFB, there is a device with a yellow indication where drivers are yielding at much higher rates.

"Having this device only active when a pedestrian is present is an obvious contribution to its effectiveness.

"We want to understand what, if any, other characteristics are contributing to the effectiveness."

"Several agencies are interested in having the RRFB added to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices."

To evaluate drivers' yielding on an open road, the research team members used a staged pedestrian approach.

A member of the research team acted as a pedestrian, and walked through the crosswalk to test the drivers' yielding.

TTI team designed a new light bar and controller that permitted the research team to have control over the flash pattern and brightness.

Fitzpatrick added: "FHWA also wanted to investigate on the open road whether drivers would continue to yield at the same rates if the beacon placement was different.

"We identified 13 test sites where the communities worked with us and moved the beacons from below to above the sign.

"That way we had similar drivers and site characteristics when we collected data for both conditions when the beacons were above the sign and when the beacons were below the sign."

Research is being carried out on a wide range of traffic control devices, with an aim to enhance driver awareness and improve their yielding to pedestrians.

The rectangular rapi

Research is being carried out on a wide range of traffic control devices, with an aim to enhance driver awareness and improve their yielding to pedestrians.

The rectangular rapi

Image: The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has sponsored a new research project for improving pedestrian safety at uncontrolled crosswalks. Photo Courtesy of Texas A&M Transportation Institute.