ANIMATED LED "EYES" TRAFFIC SIGNALS

This Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project explored the use of animated light-emitting diode (LED) "eyes" traffic signals. The use of animated searching "eyes" LED signals to elicit looking has a biological and psychological basis which is unique to traffic control signals. This basis makes such devices easy to understand and conspicuous signals that could lead to a marked increase in compliance. In this research, completed under Federal Highway Administration permission to experiment, the use of animated "eyes" display was evaluated: as part of the WALK indication on pedestrian signal heads to remind pedestrians to look for turning vehicles; as part of an ITS signal to warn drivers of the presence and direction of pedestrians crossing the street at a midblock crosswalk; and at a passive railroad crossing to remind motorists to stop and look for trains before crossing the railroad grade crossing. Each of the noted interventions produced large and statistically significant safety benefits.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sp/its-idea_73.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This ITS-IDEA project was conducted by the Center for Education and Research in Safety, Dartmouth, N.S., Canada. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Van Houten, R
• Publication Date: 2001-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24 p.
• Serial:
  • ITS-IDEA Program Project Final Report
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Experiments; Intelligent transportation systems; Light emitting diodes; Midblock crossings; Pedestrian actuated controllers; Pedestrian safety; Railroad grade crossings; Technological innovations; Traffic safety; Traffic signals; Warning devices
• Identifier Terms: Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) (Program)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Animated eyes traffic signals
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Railroads; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00970454
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: ITS-IDEA Project 73,, Final Report
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Mar 15 2004 12:00AM