NTL Record

Title Comparison of Driver Yielding for Rectangular Rapid-Flashing Beacons Used Above and Below Pedestrian Crossing Signs [TechBrief]
Record ID 61457
Personal Name
Creator
Do, Ann
Corporate Creator United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center
Publisher United States. Federal Highway Administration. Office of Research, Development, and Technology
Publication Date 20160600
Language English
Abstract Traffic control devices, such as rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs), have been shown to increase the number of drivers yielding to crossing pedestrians. Evaluations of field installations of these devices have been conducted in several locations, including Florida, Texas, Oregon, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Calgary, AB. (See references 1 through 10.) Before-after studies have shown a large increase in driver yielding between the before period (range of 1 to 83 percent) to the after period (range of 38 to 98 percent). Although the RRFB is allowed under interim approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there is a growing interest in adding it to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).(11,12) The Signals Technical Committee (STC) of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which assists in developing language for chapter 4 of the MUTCD, is interested in research and/or assistance in developing materials on the design, application, and effectiveness of the RRFB. One of the areas for which the STC is seeking advice is the position of the beacons relative to the crossing sign. For example, does positioning the beacons above the sign improve the driver’s ability to see a pedestrian crossing or waiting to cross and thus yield to crossing pedestrians?
Rosap ID dot:39186
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/39186
TRT Terms Behavior; Crosswalks; Drivers; Field studies; Flashing beacons; Methodology; Pedestrian signs; Yielding; Yield signs
General Subjects Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Pedestrians and Bicyclists
Geographical
Coverage
United States
TRIS Online
Accession No
1605773
Report Number FHWA-HRT-16-041
Availability Federal Highway Administration
Resource type Brief
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/61000/61400/61457/16041.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository