HAWK beacon


A HAWK beacon is a traffic control device used to stop road traffic and allow pedestrians to cross safely. It is officially known as a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon. The purpose of a HAWK beacon is to allow protected pedestrian crossings, stopping road traffic only as needed. Where standard traffic signal 'warrants' prevent the installation of standard three-color traffic signals, the HAWK beacon provides an alternative.
A HAWK beacon is used only for marked crosswalks. A similar hybrid beacon, called 'emergency-vehicle hybrid beacons' are allowed at driveways of emergency service buildings such as fire stations.

History

The first beacon was developed in Tucson, Arizona by Transportation Administrator R. B. Nassi, P.E., Ph.D., and installed in 2000. The bird name HAWK was suggested by his wife. Until December 2009, the HAWK beacon was categorized as an experimental device. United States transportation agencies wishing to use a HAWK signal were required to obtain approval from the Federal Highway Administration, as well as collect and submit data on the effectiveness of the device. It was finally included in the 2009 edition of the US Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as a "Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon."

Design and operation

Design

guidance states that a HAWK beacon is justified and may be installed if the following conditions are met:
The vehicular signal head has three sections, consisting of two horizontally-arranged circular red sections over a single circular yellow section that is centered between the red lights, forming a triangle. There must be at least two HAWK signal faces facing each vehicular approach to the crossing. Normal pedestrian signal heads control pedestrian traffic. If speeds of 85% of drivers exceeds, and a signal head mounted on the roadside would be obstructed from driver view, then both of the minimum signal head are required must be mounted above the roadway.

Operation

Unlike ordinary traffic signals, the vehicular signal heads of a HAWK beacon are dark until activated by a pedestrian who wishes to cross the roadway. The pedestrian signal heads operate normally, displaying an upraised hand aspect during the time that vehicles have the right of way. When a pedestrian activates the beacon by pushing the pedestrian call button, the HAWK beacon sequence is started. First with flashing yellow, then steady yellow, and finally steady red over a period of several seconds. Pedestrian pedestrian signal heads at either end of the crosswalk display the upraised hand signal until the HAWK beacon displays the steady red signal, at which time, the pedestrian heads change to the walking-person aspect.
As the pedestrian phase starts to end, the walking-person aspect changes to an flashing upraised hand with a countdown indicator. Pedestrians in the roadway should finish crossing the roadway, and anyone who wishes to cross but has not entered the roadway should reactivate the signal and wait. At this point, the vehiclear signal heads change to display an alternating flashing red aspect. Vehicles must yield to any pedestrians still in the crosswalk. If the crosswalk is clear they may proceed after coming to a full stop.
Once the pedestrian crossing phase comes to an end, the countdown indicator reaches "0", and the pedestrian signal changes back to the non-flashing upraised hand. Then the vehicle signal head returns to the dark state, and vehicle traffic has the right of way, until the signal is reactivated.

Sequence of signal

Effectiveness

One study released by the Federal Highway Administration found that, after a HAWK signal was installed, vehicle/pedestrian crashes were reduced by 69%. As many as 97% of motorists comply with the HAWK beacon, higher than signalized crossing, or crossings with flashing yellow beacons.
Some motorist confusion has been reported at newly installed HAWK beacons. When first introduced to an area, enforcement and public education are needed until users understand how the beacon works. When the beacon has not been activated, some drivers have acted as if the signal is dark due to a power outage, but that has not been experienced by all jurisdictions with HAWKs in operation. The flashing red phase is sometimes misunderstood by drivers farther back in the queue, and they followed the lead driver through the crosswalk instead of stopping at the stop line as required. Additionally, motorists sometimes remain stopped during the flashing red phase when the crosswalk is clear due to the similarity to a railroad crossing signal. In 2016, to address this issue, the Federal Highway Administration authorized use of a new traffic sign, 'R10-23a', to better explain the steady red and flashing red aspects to drivers.

Conflicting meanings of HAWK signal aspects

The design and operation of the HAWK beacon/crossing differs differ materially from the meanings and operation of the same signal aspects when used in other contexts:
A number of conflicts come exist with the alternating flashing red aspect used with the HAWK beacon.
The MUTCD explicitly states that use of horizontal, alternating red flashing lights should be avoided at stop signs to avoid confusion with railroad crossing signals. However, at a HAWK beacon, an alternating flashing red aspect instructs drivers to stop and proceed when clear, and is not supposed to be treated as stop and stay by drivers.