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

  • US road safety is a cause for concern
    September 6, 2021
    There is concern over a worrying trend in US road safety, while there have been steady gains in road safety in Europe
    Read More
  • Joining forces on safety'
    February 15, 2012
    The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) welcomed the launch of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety, saying it will enable the European Union to join forces in tackling road safety at a global level. The UN move aims to reduce by 50% the projected increase in road deaths by 2020, and was developed with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which predicts that road traffic injuries will rise to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2030 in the world. It demanded action to correct t
    Read More
  • Drivewyze: US e-inspections on the rise
    February 18, 2022
    Drivewyze says that its weigh station programme is in a phase-one deployment that expedites CSA-crediting Level III inspections in station in the US.
    Read More
  • FHWA move promoting safety for highway workers
    September 19, 2017
    A new move by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the US will help improve safety for highway workers and road users alike. The FHWA has issued a guidance memorandum saying how states can recoup the cost of acquiring highway safety equipment as a direct charge on federal aid projects. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), this move will help encourage innovation and competition in public and private sectors by allowing funding for new classes of construction
    Read More

Highlighted Content