Lightguard Systems

LightGuard Systems
Company type	Corporation
Founded	1992
Headquarters	Santa Rosa, California, United States
Key people	Michael Harrison, Founder
Website	www.lightguardsystems.com

Lightguard Systems is a California traffic safety device company known for developing “Smart Crosswalk”, the earliest pedestrian safety system to use embedded pavement flashing-light systems.^[2]^[3]

Founding

Lightguard Systems Inc. produces Lighted Crosswalk Systems invented by its founder, Michael Harrison. Inspired by a series of fatal pedestrian traffic incidents in Santa Rosa, California in 1991, Harrison developed the first LightGuard system as a safety aid for installation at pedestrian crossings and started LightGuard Systems to produce them. A commercial pilot, Harrison was inspired by the flashing lights used as runway beacon lights. He applied this principle for crosswalk visibility and founded LightGuard Systems to produce and install systems based on the technology he developed.

Lighted Crosswalk System

“The experimental ‘Crosswalk Warning System’, also known as the ‘LightGuard System’ or the ‘Santa Rosa Lights’ consists of warning lights housed in a unit which is installed on the pavement adjacent to a marked crosswalk. The lights reflect out toward the oncoming traffic to warn drivers of a pedestrian’s presence.”^[4]

Developed with an embedded pavement flashing-light system, the LightGuard system includes flashing lights and other visual cues to influence driver behavior near pedestrian crossings. Systems may be manually operated^[5] or activated automatically through electronic sensors.^[6] LightGuard’s Smart Crosswalk and other Embedded pavement flashing-light systems can be powered from the electrical grid or by on-site solar power sources.^[7]

Safety

Reports cite that studies conducted at specific locations where no traffic signal was present have shown lighted crosswalk systems like those produced by LightGuard and other manufacturers^[2] increased driver awareness of crosswalks, increasing pedestrian safety.^[8]^[9] One study calculated an increase in driver awareness of 20-95%.^[4]

Installations

LightGuard has installed its eponymous system in locations throughout the US, including at the Miami International Airport and others at San Francisco City Hall,^[1] as well as sites in Mexico.^[10]

Location

The company has offices in Sonoma County, California

References

^ ^a ^b Mason, Clark (12 November 2013). "Lighting The Way To Safer". Press Democrat. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
^ ^a ^b Eriksen, Olin (30 January 2007). "City Crosswalk System Out Of Order". Surf Santa Monica. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
^ "Investigating Improvements to Pedestrian Crossings". FHWA.DOT.Gov. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
^ ^a ^b "An Evaluation of a Crosswalk Warning System Utilizing In-Pavement Flashing Lights" (PDF). lightguardsystems. 1 January 1998. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
^ Leuzzi, Linda (22 October 2015). "Lights Art Action". Long Island Advance. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
^ Parsons, Wayne (6 May 2009). "The Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles". Honolulu Legal Examiner. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
^ Montes, Bianca (24 May 2017). "Amarillo's Rock Island Rail Trail to Get Makeover". Amarillo. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
^ Garrison, Virginia (14 February 2012). "Smart Crosswalks Headed To East Hamptons Main Street". 27East. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
^ "Cuales Son Las Causas De Los Accidentes Viales En Temporada Navidena". Elsemanario. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
^ "Atropellados Diariamente". Elarsenal.net. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.

[PressDemocrat-1] Mason, Clark (12 November 2013). "Lighting The Way To Safer". Press Democrat. Retrieved 15 July 2017.

[SurfSantaMonica-2] Eriksen, Olin (30 January 2007). "City Crosswalk System Out Of Order". Surf Santa Monica. Retrieved 5 July 2017.

[DOT.Gov-3] "Investigating Improvements to Pedestrian Crossings". FHWA.DOT.Gov. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2017.

[WhitlockWeinberger-4] "An Evaluation of a Crosswalk Warning System Utilizing In-Pavement Flashing Lights" (PDF). lightguardsystems. 1 January 1998. Retrieved 25 July 2017.

[LongIslandAdvance-5] Leuzzi, Linda (22 October 2015). "Lights Art Action". Long Island Advance. Retrieved 12 July 2017.

[HonoluluLegalExaminer-6] Parsons, Wayne (6 May 2009). "The Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles". Honolulu Legal Examiner. Retrieved 21 July 2017.

[Amarillo-7] Montes, Bianca (24 May 2017). "Amarillo's Rock Island Rail Trail to Get Makeover". Amarillo. Retrieved 27 May 2017.

[27East-8] Garrison, Virginia (14 February 2012). "Smart Crosswalks Headed To East Hamptons Main Street". 27East. Retrieved 7 July 2017.

[Elsemanario-9] "Cuales Son Las Causas De Los Accidentes Viales En Temporada Navidena". Elsemanario. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2017.

[Elarsenal-10] "Atropellados Diariamente". Elarsenal.net. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 19 July 2017.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]