Pedestrians crossing at two Madison intersections now have a new way to grab drivers' attention.

The Borough of Madison announced Thursday, Aug. 20, that two pairs of Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons are installed and operational at Rosedale Avenue and Brittin Street and at Ridgedale Avenue and Fairview Avenue. The LED devices flash in an alternating pattern when a pedestrian activates them, signaling to approaching motorists that someone is about to cross.

The beacons, known as RRFBs, are placed at uncontrolled crosswalks where no stop sign, traffic signal or yield sign exists. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the devices can push motorist yielding rates as high as 98 percent and reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 47 percent. The agency classifies RRFBs as a "Proven Safety Countermeasure" and notes they work best at multilane crossings with speed limits below 40 mph.

Madison's announcement did not name the project's cost or funding source.

The installations come as pedestrian safety draws heightened attention across the Summit area. Also on Thursday, Aug. 20, U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. appeared at Summit City Hall alongside Mayor Elizabeth Fagan to announce $530,000 in federal funding for a Glenside Avenue sidewalk and accessibility project, according to TAPinto. At that event, Summit Councilman Dan Crisafulli said traffic accidents are "the one category our chief of police tells us that's up in the past year. So pedestrian safety, really critical for our families."

Both Madison crosswalks are now equipped with the beacons around the clock, and the FHWA data suggests drivers who encounter them yield at nearly double the rate seen at standard crosswalk markings.