Enhanced safety for pedestrian crosswalks

The R920 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) crosswalk warning solution from Carmanah Technologies – which will be showcased at the IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) Annual Conference, July 28-31, 2012 in Orlando, Florida – is a pedestrian-actuated system that provides a high-intensity rapid flash pattern to alert vehicles approaching a crosswalk that pedestrians are present.

The R920 RRFB Series adds to Carmanah’s industry-proven line of solar flashing beacons that have been successfully used by city, county, and DOT agencies in the USA, Canada, and internationally for more than a decade.

Traffic engineers and planners have struggled with a dilemma of crosswalk safety since a landmark study published by FHWA in 2005 found that once vehicle volumes and speeds exceeded a certain threshold, a crosswalk with basic pavement markings and signage was associated with a higher pedestrian crash rate compared to having no crossing at all. For many of these situations, the dilemma is that a traffic signal is too costly and often not warranted, standard crosswalk signs and markings alone are not effective, and until the RRFB, the various active warning systems available have been either cost-prohibitive, marginal in effectiveness, or both.

The FHWA has issued an interim approval of the RRFB within the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), following an extensive study that monitored the effectiveness of the devices over a two-year period. According to the FHWA Interim Approval, “The RRFB's very high compliance rates are previously unheard of for any device other than a full traffic signal and a ‘HAWK’ hybrid signal, both of which stop traffic with steady red signal indications.”

“The design and performance of this new product presents low power demands, which provides the opportunity to deliver a very compact, cost-effective solar solution that meets or exceeds standards,” said Bruce Cousins, Carmanah’s CEO. The system is being designed with Carmanah’s latest solar, LED, and wireless technology. “Our goal is to deliver a product that can be installed for a fraction of the cost of a traditional AC-powered system, which will enable cities and other traffic agencies to improve safety at significantly more crosswalks than previously possible.”

22 June 2012