Whenever someone crosses the street at a busy road or intersection, lives are at stake. This is especially true at intersections plagued by the issue of unclear traffic signals and other problems.
Without the right signs and beacons, roads are a natural danger to pedestrians seeking to cross them – which is why it’s important to choose the right road signals to prevent accidents and keep your pedestrians safe outside construction zones, schools, hospitals, stores, malls and all around the country.
For crosswalks and pedestrian crossings, the ideal system to prevent automobile accidents is the HAWK beacon.
What is the HAWK Beacon?
HAWK stands for a high-intensity activated crosswalk, and it was developed originally in the state of Arizona back in the late 1990s as per the official Federal Highway Administration page.
The beacon was developed to assist at crossings, especially in major roads or arterials.
The HAWK crosswalk system was developed and refined by manufacturers such as ELTEC for the purpose of offering a hybrid traffic solution that, according to the FHA, garners a 95 percent yielding response.
The question is, though; how effective are HAWK beacons really? And why should one make sure to install a solar powered HAWK beacon at major traffic areas?
The basic reason is because as per the official crash data, the HAWK treatment saves lives.
How Effective is HAWK?
Versus signalized intersections, the HAWK treatment observed a 10 percent decrease in the frequency of ISN crashes, and nearly 60 percent decreases in pedestrian crashes.
As per the Hawaii County page, HAWK differentiates itself from other signalized intersections by providing three lights, starting dark, before flashing yellow, giving a steady yellow light, two steady red lights, flashing red lights, and finally, another dark state. It’s simple and effective.