Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon

Midblock locations account for more than 70% of pedestrian fatalities. Vehicle travel speeds are usually higher at midblock locations, contributing to the higher injury and fatality rates at these locations. More than 80% of pedestrians die when hit by vehicles traveling at 40 mph or faster while fewer than 10% die when hit at 20 mph (Federal Highway Administration, 2012).

The pedestrian hybrid beacon (also known as the High intensity Activated crossWalK (or HAWK)) is a pedestrian-activated warning device located on the roadside of a midblock pedestrian crossing. The beacon head consists of two red lenses above a single yellow lens. The beacon head is "dark" until the pedestrian desires to cross the street. When the pedestrian pushes a button to activate the beacon, the device briefly flashes steady yellow intervals and then displays a steady red indication to drivers and a "WALK" indication to pedestrians, allowing them to cross the street or roadway while traffic is stopped. When the pedestrian phase ends, the "WALK" indication changes to a flashing orange hand to notify pedestrians that their clearance time is ending. The hybrid beacon displays alternating flashing red lights to drivers as pedestrians finish their crossings and then returns to dark at the conclusion of the cycle. The pedestrian hybrid beacon provides a positive stop control in areas without the high pedestrian traffic volumes that typically warrant the installation of a signal. The alternating red signal heads allows vehicles to proceed once the pedestrian has cleared their side of the travel lane, thus improving vehicle traffic flow. Pedestrian hybrid beacons should only be used in conjunction with a marked crosswalk if gaps in traffic are not adequate to permit pedestrians to cross, if vehicle speeds on the major street are too high to permit pedestrians to cross, or if pedestrian delay is excessive (Federal Highway Administration, 2012).

Fitzpatrick and Park (2010) conducted a before-and-after study of the safety performance of the HAWK. The evaluations used an empirical Bayes method to compare the crash prediction for the after period if the treatment had not been applied to the observed crash frequency for the after period with the treatment installed. Total, severe, and pedestrian crashes were examined. The evaluation of data for 21 HAWK (treatment sites) and 102 unsignalized intersections (reference group) revealed a 29% decrease in total crashes, a 15% reduction in severe crashes, and a 69% decrease in pedestrian crashes.

Scope of the Problem

• U.S. Department of Transportation (2012). Proven Safety Countermeasures, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Report No. FHWA-SA-12-012. Retrieved from http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/fhwa_sa_12_012.htm

Evidence

• Fitzpatrick, K. and Park, E.S. (2010) TechBrief: Safety Effectiveness of the HAWK Pedestrian Crossing Treatment, FHWA-HRT-10-042, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, DC. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/studydocs/Safety%20Effectiveness%20of%20the%20HAWK%20Pedestrian%20Crossing%20Treatment%20(Fitzpatrick%20and%20Park,%202010).PDF