History
In 1991, Michael Harrison conceived the idea of a pedestrian crosswalk warning system after a close friend was involved in a fatal accident at a crosswalk. After two years of initial research and development, a "beta" system was developed. The LightGuard System™ ("System") consists of in-roadway, flashing amber light emitting diodes (LEDs) encased in a durable housing to alert the motorists of a pedestrian entering the roadway.

By the end of 1993, this initial concept was presented to the State of California through the California Traffic Controls Devices Committee (CTCDC), a panel of transportation affiliated professionals that authorizes testing and evaluation of innovative technology and makes recommendations to the Californina Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Subsequently, LGS received state and local approval for testing the System with an endorsement from the CTCDC for "innovative thinking". Phase One for operational testing and evaluation of the System began in Santa Rosa, California, in September 1994. The CTCDC continued their evaluation process through 1996 for Phase Two, with the approval of additional field study grants for six locations in four cities. Two of the cities, Ft. Bragg and Willits, obtained a rarely given Caltrans authorization to test on California State Route 1 and U.S. Highway 101.

In September of 1996, the CTCDC voted 8-0 in favor of expanded testing and evaluation of the crosswalk warning System. Phase Three testing was completed in 1997 with CTCDC voting to recommend approval and adoption of the System as tested by Caltrans as a standard traffic control device. The CTCDC recommendation was based in part on the compelling data compiled in the report, "Evaluation of an Experimental Crosswalk Warning System", dated July 1, 1997. The report was a comprehensive evaluation of the LightGuard System™ based on field studies conducted in the California cities of Fort Bragg, Petaluma, Lafayette, Santa Rosa and Willits.

The field study evaluations were conducted with funding from various sources, including the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the University of North Carolina State Highway Safety Research Center and the Center for Applied Research. Positive and compelling results from the expanded tests formed the basis for the CTCDC to formally recommend approval of the System as a standard traffic safety device in California. The evaluation results were forwarded to Caltrans with a directive to develop specifications, guidelines and standards for the device. Caltrans responded in April of 1998 with the announcement, "In response to a recommendation of the California Traffic Control Devices Committee (CTCDC), Caltrans plans to adopt standards and specifications for pedestrian crosswalk lights pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21400.".

In June of 1998, Caltrans issued, "Interim Guidelines For Experimental Crosswalk Pavement Lights" allowing interested agencies in California the opportunity to install, with an abbreviated evaluation by the local traffic engineer, the Pedestrian Crosswalk Warning System.

In 1997, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), upon submission of the application by the City of Santa Rosa, CA approved the "Request to Experiment" on a national level. This unique federal designation is titled "FHWA#IV-138 (E) Pedestrian Crosswalk LED Warning Lights". An update report followed and was released in April 1998 based on field studies in the cities of Orinda, CA, Petaluma, CA and Kirkland, WA funded by the FHWA's Pedestrian Facilities Program under contract with the University of North Carolina Highway Research Center. This designation allowed LGS to begin the process of data collection and evaluation nationwide for review and consideration for ultimate inclusion in the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This process has brought nationwide recognition to the System.

In January of 1999, LGS presented to the MUTCD Marker and Signals Committees an overview of the technology, test site results, and recommended amendments to the existing manual. Both committees approved of the recommendations. In June of 1999, at the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NCUTCD), a motion was presented for a general vote and passed in favor of those recommendations. The recommended language was forwarded to FHWA for inclusion into the Federal Register for public comments. FHWA made the final decision on the language and inclusion of this technology in the MUTCD. In-pavement crosswalk warning lights are now a standard.

During the public comment period LGS intends to continue to target key "test" sites in the United States to expand visibility of the System referencing the federal designation: "FHWA#IV-138 (E) Pedestrian Crosswalk LED Warning Lights".