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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford Comic Con planned next Saturday ... Oregon primary might actually matter this year, especially for Republican race ... Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion ... Medford Comic Con planned next Saturday ... Oregon primary might actually matter this year, especially for Republican race ... Review: OSF's 'Roe' frames a contentious piece of history with compassion ... Treat a flashing red light like you would a stop sign In the course of the building and opening of the new South Medford High School, an unusual light was established at the intersection of South Columbus Avenue and Diamond Street. It's a pedestrian-activated light, and it's generated a lot of questions for me on how the light works and what the options are for drivers when this signal is activated. Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM Updated Dec 13, 2010 at 3:10 AM Posted Dec. 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM Updated Dec 13, 2010 at 3:10 AM » Social News In the course of the building and opening of the new South Medford High School, an unusual light was established at the intersection of South Columbus Avenue and Diamond Street. It's a pedestrian-activated light, and it's generated a lot of questions for me on how the light works and what the options are for drivers when this signal is activated. When activated by a pedestrian, the signal goes from unlit to flashing, then a solid yellow light, followed by a solid and then flashing red light. The predominant question was, "When the flashing red light comes on, can I go if the pedestrian is out of the crosswalk? They're sometimes halfway down the block before the red light goes out!" My opinion was that you had to stop and remain stopped for the solid red light, but once it went to flashing red, then you could proceed if it was safe to do so, treating the flashing red as it's defined in the Department of Motor Vehicles manual on responses to different types of signals. As a caveat, if you approached the light when it was in the flashing red cycle, then you still must stop before proceeding, even if you didn't get there under a solid red light. To confirm my opinion, I called Lt. Bob Hansen at the Medford Police Department, since the new light is in its jurisdiction, and he said that was correct. He also sent me a link to an ODOT/DMV website, www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/sections/HAWK_brochure.pdf?ga=t , that explains the new light, which I learned is called a HAWK light. HAWK stands for High-intensity Activated CrossWalK. So even I learned something new on this one. The website brochure has pictures of what the light sequences are from both the pedestrian's and driver's viewpoint and offers some interesting facts — one of those being that you can proceed on the flashing red light after stopping and when the pedestrian is out of the crosswalk. Check it out if you can. Have a question for Dace? Write to Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501, or e-mail [email protected]. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Dec. 13, 2010 at 12:10 AM Updated Dec 13, 2010 at 3:10 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501