It's not just that they're distracted. The HAWK light is actively confusing them.

1) It does NOT have a green signal for motorists. Instead it turns off. So it isn't noticed on approach as a traffic signal.

2) It uses non-standard signalling

3) It does not use the new high vizibility lights that actual traffic lights are using. It's dim and high.

4) There's no context. Color blind drivers like me who are used to red on top and yellow in the middle can't tell for sure whether it's flashing yellow or red.

5) There has been almost no public information campaign about it and there is no law enforcement presence. They just turned it on and hoped for the best.

This is what they should have installed - a Puffin crossing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-7knZXbj_4

Actual traffic light phases that people understand. Sensors to ensure that pedestrians are clear of the intersection before drivers get green again. But no - that would make too much sense.

On Sun, Sep 13, 2015 at 5:42 PM, Jerry Shere <shere.jerry@gmail.com> wrote:

Believe me, distracted drivers don't see anything. It's a very dangerous epidemic.

Jerry Shere
Albuquerque, New Mexico

On Sun, Sep 13, 2015 at 3:45 PM, John Vance via Bike-racers <bike-racers@mailman.swcp.com> wrote:
Trusting the new HAWK pedestrian/bicycle light at Lomas and Alvarado will get you killed. The three times I've used it so far, it's been a clusterfuck of drivers stopping on the flashing yellow and honking at me to go, along with drivers cruising through the double red signal while blabbing on their cell phones. Nobody knows what the signal means. Best to not actuate it and cross when traffic allows. Nobody knows what the signal means. What a waste of money.

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