WILL YOU STOP FOR ME? ROADWAY DESIGN AND TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE INFLUENCES ON DRIVERS YIELDING TO PEDESTRIANS IN A CROSSWALK WITH A RECTANGULAR RAPID-FLASHING BEACON

Roadway Design and Traffic Control Influences on Driver Yielding: An Overview

The rectangular rapid-flashing beacon (RRFB) is a pedestrian treatment that has received national attention in recent years because it has noteworthy characteristics that produce improved vehicle stopping and yielding behavior to pedestrians as compared to other pedestrian treatments that also use yellow beacons.

Characteristics that result in the higher yielding are believed to include having brighter indications, employing unique beacon arrangement and flash patterns, and being active only when a pedestrian is present.

(Report No. TTI-CTS- 0010 Texas A&M Transportation Institute)

VIEW THE REPORT (PDF)

Why Are RRFBs Effective in Roadway Design and Traffic Control?

Rectangular rapid-flashing beacons flash in an eye-catching sequence to draw drivers’ attention to the sign and the need to yield to a waiting pedestrian. They may be located on the side of the road below pedestrian crosswalk or school crossing signs or on a mast overhead with a sign.

RRFB devices can be activated by a pedestrian either actively (pushing a button) or passively (detected by sensors). Several studies have examined the effectiveness of the device or elements contained within the device. All of the studies that used a before-to-after design (before indicating either no flashing beacon or continuously flashing beacon treatment, and after indicating RRFB installed) found an improvement in driver yielding after the RRFBs were installed.

A Summary of RRFBs’ Impact on Driver Yielding

The RRFB is a relatively recent pedestrian crossing treatment that has shown great potential in improving driver yielding to pedestrians compared to more traditional treatments that also use yellow beacons.

Though observed results from RRFB treatments have been generally promising, results from several studies showed widely varying yielding rates (19% – 98%), indicating that there are variables other than the RRFBs that have an effect on driver yielding. When combined with other pedestrian markers, like LED stop signs, RRFBs have a positive impact on driver yielding in myriad circumstances.

Proposed Items Around RRFBs

The FWHA is proposing adding a chapter specifically for RRFBs. The Federal Register summarizes the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices’ proposed items around RRFBs that ties into this proposed chapter.. The MUTCD has been owned and administered by the Federal Highway Administration) since 1971, with its primary objectives being to:

Provide national uniformity in traffic control devices
Serve as the key traffic/transportation engineering reference document
Stand as the only transportation engineering document that is identified in federal code as the national standard
Serve as the only document that requires compliance of federal and state law on all roads open to public travel regardless of classification or ownership.

Compliance with the MUTCD encourages the promotion of roadway safety, the assurance that specific road user groups’ needs are being met, the achievement of national and/or state traffic control device practices, and the reduction in liability lawsuits, and much more.

Our mission at Availed Technologies is to produce solar flashing beacons and LED enhanced signs that are exceptionally reliable and effective.

With over 25 years combined experience in the Solar LED Industry we have the knowledge and skill set to design and deliver products that perform year after year. We understand that providing a best-in-class product demands the support of industry-leading partners, and we are very proud to be represented by some of the most trusted companies in the business.

Best-in-class Flashing Beacons
and LED Traffic Signs

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