Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- A new type of traffic signal has been installed in Colorado Springs that traffic officials said will keep kids safer.

It's called a hybrid pedestrian beacon, and the first of its kind in Colorado Springs has been installed at Hancock and Third Street, right outside of Edison Elementary.

Traffic officials said the new signal is proven to be safer but will take some getting used to because most Colorado drivers haven't seen anything like it before.

"It's new technology that's being used across the country and has proven itself to be a lot safer," City Traffic Engineer Dave Krauth said.

Traffic officials said hybrid pedestrian beacons reduce car crashes by almost 30 percent and pedestrian accidents by nearly 70 percent.

"We don't know exactly why it's safer, we do know it is safer," Krauth said.

When there are no pedestrians around, the traffic signal is off, saving energy and allowing traffic to flow freely at the same time.

"Once a pedestrian actuates it, it flashes yellow for a few seconds and then goes to solid yellow just like a regular signal and then you get solid red, two lights that you're supposed to stop for," Krauth said.

Then the solid red lights change to flashing red lights and at that point drivers can continue if there is no one in the crosswalk.

"We've all been at pedestrian intersections when the pedestrian has crossed the street, and they're halfway down the block and we're still stopped waiting for the light to go to green," Krauth said. "So this is more efficient in that it allows you to go through the intersection on that flash red if it's clear."

School officials said it is a win-win for pedestrians and drivers.

"This is truly a neighborhood school. A lot of our students do live in walking distance so now that it's a safer way to get across the street, because this is a fairly busy street Hancock, but hopefully more people will be walking," Edison Elementary Principal Steve Hesselberg said.

The city got a federal Safe Route to School grant, which is what they used to fund the new hybrid pedestrian beacon.

Officials said they hope to add more of these traffic signals around town in the future.