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The Center
for Education and Research in Safety has developed a number
of safety technologies based on the use of the animated searching
eyes with the support of the Transportation Research Board
Intelligent Transportation System IDEA program and the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety. Some of these applications are
illustrated below.
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Pedestrian
Signal Studies
The LED pedestrian signal with animated ‘‘eyes’’
used to remind pedestrians to look for turning vehicles.
This signal reduces conflicts with turning vehicles,
and helps blind pedestrians with low vision to tell
when it is there turn to walk. Click here
or image for more info. |
ITS ‘‘EYES’’ APPLICATIONS
The ITS version of the animated ‘‘eyes’’
display includes symbol icons on each side of the eyes display.
When sensors detect a particular threat the animated eyes
display is illuminated along with the symbol showing the direction
of the threat.
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Parking
Garage Exit Application
The animated eyes can be used with pedestrian icons
to warn motorists to watch for a pedestrian approaching
from the right or the left. Click here
or image for more info. |
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Application
at Crosswalks with an Uncontrolled Approach
The animated eyes can be used with pedestrian
icons to warn motorists to watch for pedestrians crossing
in a crosswalk with an uncontrolled approach. Click
here or image
for more info. |
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Stop
Sign Applications
The animated eyes display can be used at
stop signs. The eyes remind motorists to look both ways
before proceeding. Click here
or image for more info. |
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Passive
Railroad Crossings
The animated eyes can be used at railway
crossings to alert motorists to look for trains before
crossing the tracks. Click here
or image for more info. |
Summary
The results of all this research and of previously
reported studies (Van Houten, Retting, Van Houten, Farmer
and Malenfant, 1999; Van Houten & Retting, 1999; Van Houten,
Van Houten, Malenfant, & Andrus, in press) document that
the animated ‘‘eyes’’ display can improve
safety in a number of sites where it is important for drivers
and pedestrians to look for potential threats. These results
also show that an ITS version of the sign that includes symbols
of the relevant threat activated by sensors can significantly
improve safety. It is interesting to note that this type of
ITS display could be used at a number of other potentially
hazardous sites. For example: the ‘‘eyes’’
display with emergency vehicle symbols could be used at emergency
vehicle exits; the ‘‘eyes’’ display with
trolley symbols could be used at intersections where trolley
traffic can approach from the right; the eyes could be used
with pedestrian and vehicle symbols at locations where multi
use trails cross roads; and the eyes could be use with vehicle
symbols at stop sign and yield locations with poor sight distance.
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