New traffic signal causes confusion in San Jose neighborhood

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A new crosswalk signal light is being tested in the Bay Area to help pedestrians cross a big four-lane street safely in South San Jose and so far it's been confusing.

Snell Avenue is one of the busiest roads in South San Jose; it's a way to get to highways 87 and 101. They put in a new crosswalk signal and now drivers are confused.

It's called a HAWK, a high intensity activated crosswalk beacon, and has three lights. When a pedestrian triggers the signal, the lower light starts to flash yellow. Then it becomes solid yellow, followed by two solid red lights on top, but the next step is confusing. The two red lights start flashing like a railroad crossing signal.

Drivers don't seem to know what to do, stop like a rail crossing until the lights stop blinking, or proceed when it's safe and the pedestrian is clear.

A nearby resident and a city council member sees drivers very confused by this.

"I've tried telling people like, you can go now because the person has already crossed halfway and the light is flashing, but people still stop and then it gets backed up, especially in the mornings when it's a heavy time. It gets backed up a lot," said Hasandip Singh, a Snell Avenue resident.

This is San Jose's first experience with the HAWK beacon, but many more are planned in several South Bay cities.

San Jose District 2 council member Ash Kalra lives around the corner from the light.

"I don't know how it quite works yet and so I also have to consult with our Department of Transportation and police department and figure out so we can get the word out to the community how the signal works because I think it can be confusing," Kalra said.

The California Highway Patrol said to consider the alternating flashing red lights like a single flashing red light, treat it like a stop sign and then proceed when it's safe.

This is the first HAWK beacon to be installed in the South Bay. The first was in San Francisco. More are expected to come in the South Bay cities because of its success in other cities reducing pedestrian accidents and fatalities.

The $150,000 beacon does frustrate drivers because they are not used to stopping mid-block, but residents say they welcome it because it allows them to cross the street to get to a neighboring park.