A new type of traffic light that’s becoming increasingly popular in Massachusetts is confusing drivers, with nearly a quarter of cars running through a solid red light, a study found.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have been studying pedestrian hybrid beacons, a type of crosswalk device that have five different sets of instructions for drivers. Unlike regular traffic signals, these beacons are found at mid-block crosswalks and places where walking/biking trails cross through streets, and they don’t have a green light.
First introduced in 2015, there are now 40 of these lights installed across the state, and the UMass study says more are in the planning stage. But researchers say “confusion is a real safety issue” for drivers encountering the beacons.
How does a pedestrian hybrid beacon work?
When a pedestrian first pushes a button to activate the beacon, that causes the yellow light to flash, telling drivers to slow down. It will then turn solid yellow, which means cars should “prepare to stop.”…