The Design
The proposed light is a rectangular, rapidly flashing beacon which can be manually activated by cyclists or pedestrians with the push of a button. Once the button is pushed, a visible pattern just like the ones on police cars will alert drivers about the pedestrians using the crossing.
The technology has been developed in the US, and these high intensity warning lights have been installed at intersections which aren't controlled by stop signs or traffic signals like mid-block crosswalks or crosswalks which are located on roundabouts. Now if someone could just balance the budget and stop ISIS, it would be all good!
Apart from being able to increase the rate at which the drivers yield for pedestrians, the technology is also cost-effective, environment friendly and easy to install.
Real-life Application
The mid-block crossing at Marina Plaza in Muroor Road was used by an accountant recently in Abu Dhabi. He had said that till now, pedestrians were at the mercy of the drivers at crosswalks. He believed that they needed signals which helped them to cross the roads safely. But the drivers have lights and their own eyes right? This technology does seem promising though but is the driver not slowing down for the red light anyhow?
These flashing beacons do have a place and work quite well in societies which already have acceptance when it comes to pedestrian safety or the awareness of road users who are vulnerable to a car collision.
Abu Dhabi hasn't reached this stage yet but in the short term, separation with the help of barriers, underpasses, and bridges or the regulation of traffic at junctions is the only way for pedestrians to be safe and secure. Well if it is that dangerous for pedestrians it sounds like there should not be any pedestrians.
Skeptics
The TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) at the British consultancy in UAE said that this concept was an interesting one, but had certain potential hazards too.
They say that just because one motorist has stopped doesn't mean that motorists in other lanes are going to stop as well, and the pedestrians crossing the road may just get masked by the stationary traffic.
In this region, drivers do not really stop for pedestrians at an uncontrolled crossing. Even if they do stop, it could surprise other drivers and this will increase the risk of a collision.
If flashing beacons can be introduced in the country, it will also need education and enforcement as well as a very careful choice of the locations at which they are installed.
Awareness is paramount for compliance. In the United States, flashing amber beacons mean someone wants to cross the street.
But in the UAE, drivers don't stop at crossings even though the traffic laws say that they must. This isn't because they don't notice the pedestrians waiting at crossings, it is because of the country's car-dominated culture and perhaps they do not respect human life there like they do in other countries. Moreover, this is very different from the shared road space concept adopted in other countries.
Willingness
These rapidly flashing lights are supposed to help increase the visibility of pedestrians but won't affect the willingness of a driver to stop for pedestrians. That is the point! And in cultures like the UAE, pedestrians should be ware. Some cultures human life just is not valued as much. But also, some pedestrians need to apply some common sense too and look both ways before they cross.
There's potential danger involved here since pedestrians are going to rely on flashing beacons to keep them safe while crossing and may even being crossing while certain drivers have no intention of stopping. Perhaps some of these drivers do not need to be driving either.