Charlotte, Here’s What To Do At Those Flashing Pedestrian Crossings
Charlotte continues to grow, and with that growth means more infrastructure; for cars and people. We’re seeing more pedestrian crossings, and trails popping up around the city. As I’ve been driving back and forth from work the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that many Charlotte drivers seem confused when it comes to the new pedestrian crossings going up all across town.
The crossings are called HAWK Pedestrian Signals. You may not know the name, but you’ve definitely seen them around Charlotte. They’re the pedestrian signals that light up with a hard red light, then after about 10 seconds, they start flashing red, only to go off after about 30 seconds.
I’ve seen so many people confused about what to do at these new pedestrian crossings. Do I go? Do I stop? Well let’s settle it once and for all, because it’s starting to drive me crazy!
This video is from The City of Tallahassee, but the crosswalks are the same. Here’s how to handle the lights, and what each stage means.
So there you have it! As soon as the intersection clears, even if the lights are still flashing red, you may go ahead.
Hopefully this will help clear up some of the confusion I see everyday happening on places like South Blvd.
