Improved Safety on US 41 with New Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons

To assist pedestrians in safely navigating the six-lane road traffic, three new Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs) have been put on US 41 (East Tamiami Trail) close to Bayshore Drive. The three new PHBs are referred to as midblock crosswalks since they are not located at intersections, unlike intersection crosswalk pedestrian signals, which are also known as High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk beacon signals, or HAWKs for short.

It is anticipated that the PHBs will lessen car-pedestrian collisions and contribute to lifesaving. A June 2015 Pedestrian Bike Safety Audit conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) revealed that, within the study limits of US 41 from Commercial Drive to Guilford Road and Airport Road from US 41 to Estey Avenue, there were 72 crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists; 48 of those crashes occurred on US 41, and two of those crashes resulted in fatalities.

When the light turns red, please remember to stop your vehicle so that people can cross the street safely. When crossing the road while walking, don’t forget to press the button located on the pole next to the signal and wait for it to turn red to stop traffic.

Only when a pedestrian hits the button on the signal pole do the PHBs come on. A 2010 research by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) found that PHBs can lower overall crash rates by 29% and crashes involving pedestrians by 69%.

Reducing rear-end collisions and raising drivers’ awareness to stop for pedestrians are two benefits of the beacons, which remain dark until activated.

Near Andrew Drive, Pelton Street, and Spruce Street are the three new PHBs on US 41. Use the PHB to assure your safety if you must cross US 41 while walking or riding a bicycle in specific places.

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