Caltrans installs HAWK pedestrian crosswalk signal

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has installed a new ‘high intensity activated crosswalk’ (HAWK) beacon at a busy intersection on route 108. When the beacon is activated by pedestrians or cyclists, flashing lights warn approaching motorists to stop to allow them to cross the road. An advantage of the HAWK beacon is that it only stops traffic when it is activated in this way. The HAWK beacon not only prevents the unnecessary stopping of traffic at intersections, it has also been found to reduce traffic accidents involving pedestrians by 69%.