The beacons feature a range of features developed to improve visibility and versatility for marking safety zones on roadways.
NAT says the field trials are underway to verify its new line of flashing beacons planned to begin production in the third quarter of 2013. The new beacons are designed for year-round, 24/7 operation in all climates.
Current testing in varied climate zones will ensure that the beacons achieve targets for durability and reliability in unattended operation, powered only by their integrated battery packs and solar array, according to NAT.
Assisting school zone compliance and enforcement
Peter Vieveen, president of North America Traffic, sees a great deal of potential for the beacons in school safety zones. The beacons can be set to flash during specific periods on a day-by-day basis through a simple interface, similar to common desktop computer calendars. While the beacons can be pre‑programmed to match normal school schedules, local users can also update the timing to reflect changes in the schedule or for special events.
Vieveen also notes that enforcement is an important part of safety that NAT addresses in the beacons’ design. A status indicator in the rear of the beacon displays when the LED signals are actually flashing. This feature will allow traffic enforcement officers to verify that the beacons were operating at the time of an infraction. In a school zone, for example, the enforcement officer could park between a pair of beacons and monitor their operation while observing traffic.
