The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has completed the installation of new pedestrian crosswalks equipped with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at three intersections in Stafford County. The crossings are located at Route 624 (Primmer House Road) at Riggs Road and Switchyard Court, Route 1706 (Plantation Drive) south of Smokehouse Drive, and Route 2350 (Woodcutters Road) at Millrace Road.
The RRFB system is activated when a pedestrian or bicyclist presses a button beneath a white sign, which then triggers flashing yellow lights. These lights are intended to alert drivers that someone is preparing to cross or is already crossing the street. Drivers are required to stop for all pedestrians in a crosswalk.
According to VDOT, “the flashing lights improve the visibility of pedestrians and bicyclists using a marked pedestrian crossing.” In addition to the new signs and equipment, accessible ramps have been installed at each intersection to connect sidewalks with the crosswalks. The locations were chosen near schools to provide safer routes for students walking in the area.
The total estimated cost for these improvements is $392,000. Funding comes from state secondary road allocations prioritized by Stafford County as part of its Secondary Six Year Plan.
Research from the Federal Highway Administration indicates that installing RRFBs at crosswalks can lead to a reduction in pedestrian crashes by up to 47 percent.
