Are In-Roadway Warning Lights allowed for crosswalks or stop lines at signalized intersections or roundabouts?
They are allowed for crosswalks at roundabouts but not allowed for crosswalks or stop lines at signalized intersections. Typical modern roundabout design calls for the crosswalks to be located 25 to 40 feet in advance of where the entering roadway traffic must yield to the circulatory roadway traffic. Those crosswalks are thus considered an uncontrolled location and thereby eligible for the use of In-Roadway Warning Lights (IRWLs). Use at signalized intersections is not allowed because Section 4L.02 states that IRWLs “shall not be used at crosswalks controlled by YIELD signs, STOP signs, or traffic control signals.” A few jurisdictions have obtained FHWA approval to experiment with red in-roadway warning lights that are illuminated when the red signal is on, to supplement stop lines at signalized intersections. Other jurisdictions wishing to use in-roadway lights in applications other than that described in Section 4L.02 must request experimentation approval.
