HAWK Beacon Signal

[14051996]

The Americans have found the pelican crossing.

[liamlunchtray]

Terrible. Traffic lights are standardized for a reason – So you know wtf to do. I’m a car nerd, and a fan of urban issues, but if I came up to this I would have no idea what to do or expect. I would associate the toggling red to mean STOP like at a railroad crossing – I wouldn’t interpret it as a standard flashing red like a stop sign. What is the purpose of this over just having a standard traffic light that is green all the time unless someone presses the button?

[NeoFalcon69]

Great idea - I don't know how well it would work here in New Zealand - flashing red lights are usually ONLY reserved for train crossings - if we had that here and the flashing red lights meant "go if safe" I bet we'll have idiots here would apply the same rule to flashing red lights at train crossings.

I would suggest they use flashing orange ones instead of the red like they do in the UK on some of their crossings to indicate the same thing.

[OfficerNelson]

That's a pretty stupid design. Why not just use a standard 3-head emergency signal - red on top, solid yellow in the middle, and flashing yellow on the bottom? Or even a 2-head? That way when it flashes red, motorists might have a bit more of a clue that it's more of a stop-and-go signal than the current wig-wag red that imitates more of a railroad signal, which obviously you shouldn't go through.

[Ryoukun16]

@OfficerNelson I'm pretty sure your suggestion is two TIMES worse.

[OfficerNelson]

@Ryoukun16 How? Are you a traffic engineer? Do you have some sort of proof that motorists interpret wig-wag red ball signals as "stop then go when it's safe" moreso than your typical flashing red, taught in most states to be "stop then go when it's safe"? Even a regular R/Y/G signal would be better.

[Ryoukun16]

@OfficerNelson Ok, seriously, I was about to reply, but seeing how arrogant you typed it, I think not. Come back to me VIA PM once you figure it out, then I'll be more than happy to explain.

[OfficerNelson]

@Ryoukun16 If you don't have proof otherwise, you can't argue with common sense. Sorry.

[Ryoukun16]

@OfficerNelson It turns out you need some common sense as you have to remember most 4-way stop signals had the red flash.

[Ryoukun16]

@OfficerNelson Oh yeah, and learn how not to be an ass.

[OfficerNelson]

@Ryoukun16 Sorry once again, but I have never seen a stop sign with a wig-wag flasher.

[wca4242]

People STILL don't know how to properly use this signal. Most cars just sit stopped until all the lights turn comletely off. It happened to me twice this morning that cars will not go, even if there are no bikes/pedestrians, until the entire signal goes dark. Please try again to get the word out to people that live in this area.  Apparently no one reads (or understands) the sign at the side of the road that says "Proceed when Clear".

[Mattcrowley2a]

They kinda remind me of UK Pelican crossings and UK level crossings.