Speeding is dangerous. It negatively effects the ability of a driver to operate his or her vehicle safely in many ways and certainly threatens the lives of any pedestrian entering a crosswalk. One way traffic specialists and behaviorists are employing to get cars and other vehicles to slow down are by installing rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs). These are said to be more effective than other signage.
What Is a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon?
A rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) is a signal head of high intensity formed in a rectangle. It is also known by 4 other names:
1. Light Emitting Diode (LED)
2. Rapid-Flash System
3. Stutter Flash
4. LED Beacons
The light – a high-intensity, light-emitting diode (LED), within the RRFB flashes in a rapid, irregular flickering pattern. The signals alternate delivering extremely bright focused amber light in a configuration similar to those emitted by the emergency flashers of police emergency vehicles.
Operation of RRFBs is simple. These are user-activated devices. A pedestrian can push a button to activate it – one of the most common ways. Alternatively, sensors can activate the system. Various options are available depending upon who manufactures the system. The operating device selection also has other passive means to engage rectangular rapid flashing beacons.
Advantages of RRFBs
RRFBs provide traffic regulators and agencies with diverse advantages. Many of these are confirmed by research conducted across the United States in Texas, Virginia, New York, Florida, Illinois and DC over the past 10 years. Studies performed in the years between 2007 and 2016 clearly indicate the effectiveness of reducing the speed of drivers when they approach a pedestrian crosswalk. A study, done in Texas in 2015, found RRFBs to be very effective in improving the yield rate of drivers to pedestrians at the designated sites. In fact, the installations resulted in increases ranging from 35 to 80 percentage points.
This is the most important advantage of employing RRFBs. However, it is not the only one. These traffic safety devices:
* Act as a low cost alternative to traditional traffic and hybrid signals
* Increase the efficacy of other methods, e.g. signage, to reduce speed and watch for pedestrians or other traffic issues
When everything is taken into consideration, RRFBs save lives while reducing the overall costs of the installation of traffic safety devices.
Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
RRFBs are still a relatively new traffic safety device. However, they are, gaining a reputation for being an effective and efficient means of getting drivers to slow down and yield to pedestrians. As an inexpensive alternative to traditional lights and signage, rectangular rapid flashing beacons are providing school boards and traffic agencies the means of helping to save lives.
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