![]() When the light turns red, the pedestrian can safely cross the street. A flashing yellow light and then a steady yellow light warn drivers that they will need to stop. At the crosswalk, the pedestrian pushes a button and activates the beacon. Today’s pedestrian hybrid beacon, like the HAWK treatment, has more than one cue to alert drivers to the presence of the crosswalk. Richard Nassi, transportation administrator with the City of Tucson (now retired), developed the predecessor of the pedestrian hybrid beacon, the High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk ( HAWK) pedestrian beacon. The path to getting the safety device included in the manual began in the late 1990s when Dr. TTI had an integral role in getting the device recognized for the safety it brings to pedestrian crossings. In 2009, the pedestrian hybrid beacon was added to the national Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices ( MUTCD), the Federal Highway Administration ( FHWA) document that defines standards for installing and maintaining traffic control devices on public roadways. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon The HAWK treatment was the forerunner of the pedestrian hybrid beacon, which is helping make crosswalks safer for communities across the country. “Both studies are influencing national standards and making conditions better for pedestrians,” says Kay Fitzpatrick, manager of TTI’s Roadway Design Program, who led the studies. The first study, involving pedestrian hybrid beacons, evaluated crash data before and after installation of the treatment, while the second study examined the visibility of different types of crosswalk pavement markings. Two recent research studies on pedestrian crossings have aimed at making crosswalks safer and more efficient. Researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute ( TTI) are trying to make things easier for both you and the driver coming toward you. That’s not much to stand between you and a vehicle hurtling toward you. Sometimes the only thing that alerts drivers to a crosswalk is the thin white lines on the pavement. It can feel like you’re taking your life into your own hands when you cross some of Texas’ wide, high-speed roads. Beacons, Pavement Markings Improve Crosswalk Safety
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