Calgary is the first city in Canada to test a new high-tech system aimed at keeping pedestrians safe.
Rectangular rapid flash beacons have been installed at 10 crosswalks across the city with another 10 scheduled to go up next year.
“We are looking at hotspots,” said Councillor Druh Farrell on Thursday. “There are certain intersections in this city that are really dangerous for pedestrians and they’ve had multiple collisions and some deaths.”
Unlike the overhead pedestrian warning lights alerting drivers a pedestrian is crossing, the flashing beacons are installed underneath crosswalk signs by the side of the road.
Each sign costs between 20 and 40 thousand dollars – about half the cost of overhead flashing lights and a good option according to the head of the city’s traffic safety operations..
Calgary is not the only city looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety. Halifax and Washington are both trying out a lower-cost initiative in which pedestrians carry flags to warn approaching drivers they are preparing to cross.
Councillors in Calgary say they need to see more data before that approach is tested here.
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