Rapid Flashing Beacons Help Pedestrian Safety at STH 76 & Parkview Drive

The Town of Greenville with permission from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recently installed a pair of rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at the intersection of Parkview Drive and STH 76. 

RRFBs are pedestrian-actuated enhancements used in combination with a pedestrian, school, or trail crossing warning sign to improve safety at uncontrolled, marked crosswalks. The device includes two rectangular-shaped yellow indications, each with an LED-array-based light source, that flash with high frequency when activated. The RRFB design differs from the standard flashing beacon by utilizing:

• A different shape
• A much faster rapid-pulsing flash rate.
• A brighter light intensity. 

The RRFBs are placed on both sides of a crosswalk below the pedestrian crossing sign and above the arrow indication pointing at the crossing. The flashing pattern can be activated with pushbuttons.

The installation of RRFBs can reduce pedestrian crashes by 47%, see NCHRP Research Report 841: Development of Crash Modification Factors for uncontrolled Pedestrian Crossing Treatments. 

Remember, state law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians:

• Who have started crossing an intersection or crosswalk on a walk signal or on a green light if there is no walk signal;
• Who are crossing the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection where there are no traffic lights or control signals; and
• Whenever directed to stop by a school crossing guard (346.46 (2m). Like bus drivers, crossing guards have the authority to report violations to law enforcement.

Depending on the specific violation, drivers who fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians that are legally crossing a roadway can receive a citation ranging from $175 to $326.