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Consultant briefs committee on RRFBs and speed feedback signs; cites MUTCD and state yield law
Summary
Mike Dugas presented an overview of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and speed feedback signs to the Public Safety Committee on April 16, placing the devices in the context of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and noting state law requiring drivers to yield at pedestrian crossings.
Mike Dugas of Griedman Pedersen gave the Public Safety Committee a technical briefing on rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) and speed feedback signs on April 16, describing their purpose, effectiveness and placement guidance.
Jerry (committee staff) introduced the presentation as the third in a series of traffic safety briefings; previous sessions covered the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), speed management, and roundabouts. “Mike has worked most of his professional career as a transportation engineer in the Bureau of Highway Design at New Hampshire DOT,” the committee introduction said, noting Dugas’s background in preliminary design and highway safety.
Dugas said RRFBs are pedestrian-activated beacons placed on pedestrian warning signs to alert drivers when a person is waiting to cross. He summarized the devices’ roughly 20‑year evolution, their intent to increase driver awareness at crossings, and regulations and best practices for placement. “Because even though state law requires drivers to yield at pedestrian crossings, very often the pedestrian isn’t very clear or it’s unexpected to the driver,” Dugas said, explaining why active devices can improve compliance.
He also reviewed speed feedback signs — radar-based displays that show approaching drivers their speed — and discussed how to deploy both devices to get the best safety results. Committee staff noted that the two prior presentations are available on the city website for public review.
The briefing provided regulatory context (MUTCD guidance and state yield requirements) and technical background the committee said it will use when evaluating specific crosswalk locations and requests from residents. No committee vote or policy change occurred during the presentation; it was informational and part of the committee’s ongoing review of traffic control options.
