No flash in the pan

Carmanah Technologies Corporation claims its new R920 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) has features proven to significantly improve crosswalk safety. The pedestrian-activated system provides a high-intensity rapid flash pattern to alert vehicles approaching a crosswalk that pedestrians are present. The R920 RRFB Series adds to what Carmanah describes as its industry proven line of solar flashing beacons which have been successfully used by City, County, and DOT (Department of Transportation) Agencie
August 13, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
2798 Carmanah Technologies Corporation claims its new R920 Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) has features proven to significantly improve crosswalk safety.

The pedestrian-activated system provides a high-intensity rapid flash pattern to alert vehicles approaching a crosswalk that pedestrians are present. The R920 RRFB Series adds to what Carmanah describes as its industry proven line of solar flashing beacons which have been successfully used by City, County, and DOT (Department of Transportation) Agencies in the US, Canada, and internationally for over a decade.

Traffic Engineers and Planners are said by Carmanah to have struggled with the ‘dilemma’ of crosswalk safety since a landmark study published by the 2410 Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2005 found that once vehicle volumes and speeds exceeded a certain threshold, a crosswalk with basic pavement markings and signage was associated with a higher pedestrian crash rate compared to having no crossing at all. For many of these situations, the dilemma is that a traffic signal is too costly and often is not warranted; standard crosswalk signs and markings alone are not effective; and, Carmanah claims until the RRFB, the various active warning systems available have been either cost-prohibitive, marginal in effectiveness, or both.

The FHWA has issued an interim approval of the R920 RRFB within the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), following an extensive study that monitored the effectiveness of the devices over a two-year period. Carmanah chief executive, Bruce Cousins, said the R920 RRFB had been designed with the company’s latest solar, LED, and wireless technology.

“Our goal is to deliver a product that can be installed for a fraction of the cost of a traditional AC powered system, which will enable cities and other traffic agencies to improve safety at significantly more crosswalks than previously possible,” said Cousions.

The R920 RRFB was due to be showcased at the IMSA (International Municipal Signal Association) Annual Conference, July 28-31 in Orlando, Florida.
Highway & Network Management

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Lighting can affect road safety
    February 5, 2013
    New research carried out jointly by the Lighting Research Center and Penn State have identified links between visibility and safety from roadway lighting. The results are said to hold promise for predicting the safety benefits of new lighting configurations. Identifying when and where to install roadway illumination is a challenge for transportation agencies. Estimating nighttime crash reductions from roadway lighting is difficult in part because lighting tends to be installed along with other improvements
    Read More
  • Lindsay argues the case for reversible lanes over adding lanes
    June 26, 2018
    Build new lanes or use existing lanes more effectively? In a recent US study* commissioned by Lindsay Transportation Solutions, the company argues the case for reversible lanes. The level of future uncertainty in transportation planning - specifically in addressing congestion on urban freeways - has increased significantly over the past few years. The impact of connected and autonomous vehicles on traffic flow, of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) initiatives, particularly the car-sharing elements, and exciting
    Read More
  • Florida gets one.network closure
    November 14, 2022
    Road crews in the US state of Florida can now post lane closure information to GPS providers from their mobile phones while working on site
    Read More
  • M100 wireless detector milestone
    March 19, 2012
    Clearview Traffic Group has announced the 150th installation of the Golden River M100 wireless vehicle detection system within the UK. This milestone also marks an installed base of over 1,500 M100 sensors and 300 M110 Access Points in the two years since its launch.
    Read More

Highlighted Content