RATHDRUM - New technology has arrived on Highway 41 in Rathdrum in the name of pedestrian safety.

Pedestrian-activated, solar-powered, flashing amber beacons were recently installed on the busy highway next to Lakeland High School and at Pine Street to alert motorists to yield to pedestrians.

With the high school, Lakeland Junior High and John Brown Elementary all along Highway 41, pedestrian safety has been a long-time topic on the minds of school and city officials.

"Sometimes people will drive halfway through town before realizing there's crosswalks," Mayor Vic Holmes said.

The beacons and pedestrian signs are attached to poles on both sides of the highway at the crosswalks. The cost is $10,000 per set. Funding came from the city's police and public works budgets.

Five more sets will be installed this spring and summer in town, including four in other areas of Highway 41 and one along Highway 53. Those are funded with a state grant.

The city and school district have split the yearly cost of $9,750 to hire crosswalk guards at busy times along Highway 41.

City officials said the guards will still be utilized with the beacons, but there will be fewer of the guards needed.

At night, the beacons are battery-powered, so they are functional 24/7.

"These lights will greatly increase the safety of those crossing the state highways during all hours of the day and night," said Kevin Fuhr, Rathdrum's police chief. "The LED lights are extremely bright. They are the same lights as used in police car lightbars."

Pedestrians activate the lights with a button at the crosswalk. The two oblong flashing lights per pole are turned on for 18 seconds before automatically turning off. The activation time can be modified, if necessary.

Fuhr said his agency has conducted frequent crosswalk emphasis patrols along Highway 41 and will continue those in the future.

"Sometime in the spring we will do traffic emphasis to educate motorists about the systems and the need for them to stop when the lights are flashing," he said.

City officials said there have been just a few accidents involving pedestrians along Highway 41 in recent years, but the risk is severe, considering the schools in the corridor.

"With two state highways running through town and students crossing them, the potential (for catastrophes) is huge," Holmes said.