Lightguard Systems
{{Short description|American technology corporation}}
{{Infobox company
| name = LightGuard Systems
| logo =
| type = Corporation
| industry =
| foundation = 1992
| location = Santa Rosa, California, United States
| key_people = Michael Harrison, Founder{{cite web|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2224273-181/lighting-the-way-to-safer?gallery=2339979&artslide=0 |title=Lighting The Way To Safer |last=Mason |first=Clark |date=12 November 2013 |website=Press Democrat |access-date=15 July 2017}}
| num_employees =
| parent =
| homepage = [http://www.lightguardsystems.com/ 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2007/January-2007/01_30_07_Citys_Crosswalk_System_Out_of_Order.html |title=City Crosswalk System Out Of Order |last=Eriksen |first=Olin |date=30 January 2007 |website=Surf Santa Monica |access-date=5 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/15043/index.cfm |title=Investigating Improvements to Pedestrian Crossings |date=1 June 2015 |website=FHWA.DOT.Gov |access-date=5 August 2017}}
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.”{{cite web|url=http://www.lightguardsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Whitlock-Weinberger-Report-1998.pdf |title=An Evaluation of a Crosswalk Warning System Utilizing In-Pavement Flashing Lights |date=1 January 1998 |website=lightguardsystems |access-date=25 July 2017}}
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{{cite web|url=https://www.longislandadvance.net/2493/Lights-art-action |title=Lights Art Action |last=Leuzzi |first=Linda |date=22 October 2015 |website=Long Island Advance |access-date=12 July 2017}} or activated automatically through electronic sensors.{{cite web|url=http://honolulu.legalexaminer.com/automobile-accidents/the-pedestrian-crosswalk-safety-chronicles-innovative-solution-for-crosswalk-safety/ |title=The Pedestrian Crosswalk Safety Chronicles |last=Parsons |first=Wayne |date=6 May 2009 |website=Honolulu Legal Examiner |access-date=21 July 2017}}
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.{{cite web|url=http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2017-05-24/amarillo-s-rock-island-rail-trail-get-makeover |title=Amarillo's Rock Island Rail Trail to Get Makeover |last=Montes |first=Bianca |date=24 May 2017 |website=Amarillo |access-date=27 May 2017}}
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{{cite web|url=https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2007/January-2007/01_30_07_Citys_Crosswalk_System_Out_of_Order.html |title=City Crosswalk System Out Of Order |last=Eriksen |first=Olin |date=30 January 2007 |website=Surf Santa Monica |access-date=5 July 2017}} increased driver awareness of crosswalks, increasing pedestrian safety.{{cite web|url=http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-Hampton-Village/412797/Smart-Crosswalks-Headed-To-East-Hamptons-Main-Street |title=Smart Crosswalks Headed To East Hamptons Main Street |last=Garrison |first=Virginia |date=14 February 2012 |website=27East |access-date=7 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://elsemanario.com/motor/10522/cuales-son-las-causas-de-los-accidentes-viales-en-temporada-navidena/ |title=Cuales Son Las Causas De Los Accidentes Viales En Temporada Navidena |date=17 December 2013 |website=Elsemanario |access-date=19 July 2017}} One study calculated an increase in driver awareness of 20-95%.{{cite web|url=http://www.lightguardsystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Whitlock-Weinberger-Report-1998.pdf |title=An Evaluation of a Crosswalk Warning System Utilizing In-Pavement Flashing Lights |date=1 January 1998 |website=lightguardsystems |access-date=25 July 2017}}
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,{{cite web|url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/2224273-181/lighting-the-way-to-safer?gallery=2339979&artslide=0 |title=Lighting The Way To Safer |last=Mason |first=Clark |date=12 November 2013 |website=Press Democrat |access-date=15 July 2017}} as well as sites in Mexico.{{cite web|url=http://www.elarsenal.net/2014/03/26/16-atropellados-diariamente-en-el-df/ |title=Atropellados Diariamente |date=26 March 2014 |website=Elarsenal.net |access-date=19 July 2017}}
Location
The company has offices in Sonoma County, California