3/28/11 7:57 PMThe Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety | InjuryBoard Honolulu

Page 1 of 5http://honolulu.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-cr…ronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety.aspx?googleid=262454

Sign In

Enter Keyword(s)

Honolulu, HawaiiHome Hawaii Honolulu Automobile Accidents

Posted by Wayne ParsonsMay 06, 2009 2:39 PM

7 Comments Print Article Subscribe

The Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk SafetyChronicles: Innovative Solution forCrosswalk Safety

A primary mission of these articles is to promotesafety and make Hawaii a safer place for all of us.Everyone in the Islands is concerned aboutcrosswalk deaths and pedestrian injuries. I havecome across an innovative system that may help prevent these tragic events: In-Roadway Warning Light (IRWL) systems.The system is called SmartCrosswalk™ and it looks pretty good to me. Motorists don't hit people incrosswalks on purpose, nor do pedestrians step in front of cars on purpose. Onboth sides of a crosswalk collision is a person who is not paying attention tosome degree. So how do we get both the driver and the pedestrian to be morealert? This article focuses on the inattentive driver. Yes, I'm talking about cellphones, Ipods, French Fries and bad street lighting.

It used to be that crossing the road was as simple as looking both ways beforestepping out into the street. Often it seems that the only option is to dash andpray. But these days there are a myriad of technologies available to aid thispassage from one side of the road to the next.

There are flashing beacons placed at the side of the road or positioned in anoverhead mast. There are countdown signal signs letting you know how longyou have to make it across the street. Some cities have even resorted tohanding out bight yellow pennant style flags you can wave as you make yourcrossing.

Although these technologies may help to reduce the number of pedestrianfatalities, those fatalities remain a serious concern. For example, according tothe National Pedestrian Crash Report, June 2008, in Hawaii, from 1997 to2006, there were 276 pedestrian fatalities with 37% of these occurring inHonolulu.

An AARP Hawaii survey of more than 50 of the state's busiest intersectionsconfirms what many residents have suspected for years: Hawaii is one of themost dangerous places in the nation to be a pedestrian.

According to the Honolulu Advertiser "By The Numbers":

“For every pedestrian killed in Hawai'i, about nine others were hospitalizedand as many as 80 were treated in emergency rooms. Ages of those killedranged from infancy to 94, but 60 percent were 65 or older, even thoughthat age group represents only 11 percent of the state's population.”

Fortunately, advances in technology and American ingenuity have cometogether with the invention of In-Roadway Warning Light (IRWL) systems,now federally approved for use on our streets and highways. They wereinvented by Michael Harrison in 1993, a former corporate pilot and President ofLightGuard Systems, Inc. of Santa Rosa, California. In 1995, he received a USPatent for IRWL enhanced crosswalk systems (Patent Number 6,384,742 B1).

Subscribe to InjuryBoard HonoluluKeep up with the latest updates usingyour favorite RSS reader

First Name Last Name

Email Phone (optional) Zip

Type your questions or comments for an Attorney here

Your question will be referred to an attorneynear you. If your question is of a legal nature,then by submitting this form you agree you arenot forming a formal attorney / clientrelationship. Read our full privacy policy.

Additional Resources

Wayne ParsonsAttorney(866) 735-1102 Ext 585

Injury Board Honolulu is brought to you byWayne Parsons Law Offices

Legal AssistanceCenter

Wayne Parsons LawOffices

(866) 735-1102 Ext 585www.wayneparsons.com

Personal Injury Lawyers Serving:Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai

1406 Colburn St.Suite 201-C, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817[ Show Map ]

Injury Board Sites

TopicsAll Topics

On the Road

Automobile Accidents

Mass Transit (Airline,Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)Motorcycle AccidentsTractor-Trailer Accidents

Major MedicalWrongful DeathMedical MalpracticeFDA & Prescription DrugsSpinal Cord InjuriesHead & Brain InjuriesMedical Devices &Implants

Protecting Your FamilyToxic SubstancesProperty Owner's Liability(Slip & Fall)Nursing Home & ElderAbuseDefective & DangerousProducts

In the WorkplaceWorkplace InjuriesWorkplace Discrimination

MiscellaneousMiscellaneous

3/28/11 7:57 PMThe Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety | InjuryBoard Honolulu

Page 2 of 5http://honolulu.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-cr…ronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety.aspx?googleid=262454

These systems, now called the Smart Crosswalk™, are in-pavement signallights embedded across the lanes of traffic approximately two feet in front of acrosswalk. When not flashing, they are virtually invisible to the approachingmotorist.

When a pedestrian activates the devices, either manually or by automaticdetection, the lights begin flashing outward toward the approaching motorist in abright amber color. The system is designed specifically not to be seen by thepedestrian to avoid the potential for inducing a false sense of security.

The in-pavement signal lights flash in just such a pattern and rate that theycapture and hold the attention of the approaching motorist. This flashpattern/rate, called the Enlighten 1™, was developed in cooperation with theUniversity Vision Detection Laboratory in Berkeley California.

These signal lights from the Smart Crosswalk™ system are designed to mergein a “zone of convergence” at the eye level of the approaching motorist. Whenthis Enlighten 1™ light enters into the eye, it travels to the primitive part of thebrain that notices motion and movement.

Even inattentive motorists will “notice” something has changed and bring theirattention to wards the in-pavement lights.

Additional ResourcesDo I need to hire a personal injury lawyer?How do I choose the right personal injuryattorney or law firm for me?How long can I expect my lawsuit to last?Should my attorney be able to tell me howmuch my case is worth?

Blog ArchivesView previous posts from:

Interesting Links

ABA Blawg - Honolulu Personal Injury LawyerAmerican Association of JusticeBeyond PesticidesBrain & Spine Injury Law BlogCenter For Justice & DemocracyCerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy & Birth Injury BlogCommonweal InstituteCommonweal Institute BlogConsumer Watchdog NewsConsumr Watchdog BlogDay On TortsDrug Injury WatchEnvironmental Working GroupFDA RecallsHawaii Court RulesHawaii Courts: Case SearchHawaii Office of Consumer ProtectionHawaii State Bar AssociationHonolulu Law NewsHonolulu Star BulletinKGMB TV NewsKHON TV NewsLance Armstrong LivestrongLegal UndergroundMealey's Legal NewsMedical Device RecallsMotorcycles: Biker Law BlogMy ShinglePeople Over ProfitsPublic CitizenPublic JusticeThe Daily KosThe Huffington PostThe Legal SatyriconU.S. Consumer Product Safety Comission -RecallsVolunteer Legal Services of HawaiiWall Street Journal Law Blog

Regional Blogs

Subscribe to Blog Updates

Enter your email address if you would like toreceive email notifications when comments aremade on this post.

Email address Subscribe

Select Month:

3/28/11 7:57 PMThe Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety | InjuryBoard Honolulu

Page 3 of 5http://honolulu.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-cr…ronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety.aspx?googleid=262454

LED enhanced signs are recommended to be installed along with the SmartCrosswalk™. These illuminated signs provide a full array effect, adding to theeffectiveness of these in-pavement signaling systems.

Multiple independent studies have shown these IRWL enhanced crosswalksystems are highly effective in reducing motorist/pedestrian crosswalk conflict.“Sensibility in the streets” is a phrase that comes to mind when walking throughone of these illuminated pedestrian crosswalks.

I have been writing on crosswalk injuries and deaths in Hawaii for months andseeking ideas for a solution:

Hawaii Pedestrians Face Crosswalk Threats by Wayne Parsons

Another Pedestrian Death In Beretania Street Crosswalk by Wayne Parsons

Honolulu Alert: Another Pedestrian Struck Down In A Crosswalk by WayneParsons

And Hawaii isn't the only place where these horrible tragedies happen:

Wichita Teen Killed; Sun May Be Factor In Crash by Chrissie Cole

Hawaii journalists report on the deaths and injuries on the nightly news and thenewspapers like I have done in my articles. Perhaps we all should focus onpreventing these injuries and deaths by asking why innovative solutions likeSmart Crosswalk™ aren't being used in Hawaii? I am hoping to hear fromHawaii legislators, State and County employees and safety experts in Hawaiiabout whether systems like Smart Crosswalk™ might save lives and make ourstreets safer. Have they been considered by the state and county governments?Are journalists aware of these devices?

Tags: pedestrian injuries, crosswalk, safety, crosswalk injury, prevention, death,warning light, traffic signal devices

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippi

MissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew YorkNorth CarolinaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

Regional BlogsFind an InjuryBoard Blog in your area:

7 CommentsHave an opinion about this post? Please consider leaving a comment or subscribing tothe feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.

Posted by Mike BryantMay 09, 2009 6:28 PM

Sounds like a great idea. Hopefully, it gets Hawaii out of first and waydown the list.

3/28/11 7:57 PMThe Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety | InjuryBoard Honolulu

Page 4 of 5http://honolulu.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-cr…ronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety.aspx?googleid=262454

Posted by Truckie DMay 11, 2009 4:42 AM

I really like the idea of the automated crosswalk lights. I'd love to seeone in action to make sure the beamwidth on the lighting is sufficientlywide for truck drivers (who sit considerably higher than car drivers) tobe able to see it clearly.

I don't think it goes far enough though, since it really is only attackinghalf of the problem -- alerting motorists. What about alertingpedestrians?

Back in my younger days, I spent several years in Jamaica. The jokethere ran, that "Jamaican cars only had two controls -- a horn and agas pedal". Pedestrians there were well conditioned to respond toeven the smallest toot of a car horn. They'd jump out of the way atspeeds that were amazing.

Taking that as a working hypothesis, picture this: there is also a radardevice at the crosswalk that looks at traffic when the pedestrianlighting is triggered. The radar would look for cars, and if any arepresent, give an audible alarm, and flash an arrow alerting thepedestrian to which way the traffic is coming from. The audible alertwould be two tones, with a low-to-high chirp meaning from the right,and a high-to-low chirp meaning from the left, which would help thevisually impaired.

There would also be a stage two alert. The second stage of warninglights and loud, raucous noise would be triggered if the radardetermines that the vehicle(s) being tracked will be unable to safelystop before entering the crosswalk. The radar would also besufficiently smart to differentiate between cars and trucks (which havedifferent braking distances).

While this may sound technologically rather complex, it's likely easierthan you'd think. A number of years ago I was involved in a testprogram for a crash-warning radar system on trucks. While it had it'sproblems, it did have the capability (which worked very well) oftracking multiple radar targets, and determining if they were a threatworthy of warning about. The system also recorded about 30 minutesworth of radar data for crash reconstruction purposes. This technologywould be readily adaptable to this use, requiring little modification. Theprice was also quite reasonable. I'd guess that a crosswalk could beradar-equipped for under $5,000. While that's not terribly cheap, it'swithin the realm of possibility for at least high-rate crosswalks.

I hope this helps.

Posted by Wayne ParsonsMay 11, 2009 4:48 AM

Thanks Truckie D: The most common scenario is a multi-lane street.The pedestrian waits to cross and a car stops and waives thepedestrian forward, then another car stops, same scenario ... thepedestrian starts feeling safe and steps past the second car only to becrushed by a car in the third lane that wasn't paying attention.

Posted by Steve LombardiMay 13, 2009 10:07 AM

Any ideas on what the cost per crosswalk is for this system?

Posted by Wayne ParsonsMay 13, 2009 5:22 PM

Good question Steve. Maybe the manufacturer can answer that for us.

3/28/11 7:57 PMThe Hawaii Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles: Innovative Solution for Crosswalk Safety | InjuryBoard Honolulu

Page 5 of 5http://honolulu.injuryboard.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-cr…ronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety.aspx?googleid=262454

Who We AreThe Injury Board is a growing community of attorneys, media professionals, safety industry experts, and local activists committed to making a difference byhelping families stay safe and avoid injury, and helping those who are injured get the assistance they need to move on with their lives after an accident.Learn More

Home | Blogs | News | Help Centers | Law Firms | About The Injury Board | Membership Opportunities | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Disclaimer

© 2002 - 2011 All rights reserved

Posted by MelisaMay 28, 2009 5:30 PM

I actually saw this system while visiting California and thought it was agreat idea. The flashing lights gets the driver's attention. How manylives will have to be taken before Hawaii gets this system?

Posted by Wayne ParsonsMay 30, 2009 11:04 AM

I am going to see if we can get a list of locations around the countrywhere this system is in place and see how it is being received in thoseareas. I cannot believe that the City & County of Honolulu has put theinstallation on hold as our crosswalk fatalities and serious injuriesskyrocket. All the energy and money seems focused on our proposedmass transit system and politics as usual. Thanks for the CommentMelisa, its good to hear from someone who actually saw the systemworking. I too wonder what the cost is as Steve Lombardi asked sometime ago.

Comments for this article are closed.