Patients and employees were at risk using a crosswalk on a blind curve at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Hospital administrators began looking at safety equipment to prevent accidents.
The Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula recognized the danger at a commonly used crosswalk on a blind curve. Lauren Elsensohn, Media Specialist with the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, describes the situation, “The hospital felt they had to do something to address the issue of pedestrian safety. The problem was that drivers couldn’t see the crosswalk or pedestrians until they completed the turn, just prior to reaching the crosswalk. By that time it would be too late to slow down and stop.”
The hospital looked into accident prevention methods. Inpavement lighting was seen as a possible solution. They called Ed Campbell, Traffic Safety Corporation’s dealer in California to learn more. Ed recommended using a combination of inpavement fixtures and advanced warning signs for their particular situation.
Advanced warning signs were placed before the curve. They flash when activated to give drivers more time to slow down and stop. After the curve drivers see the bi-directional lights that outline the crosswalk. A pushbutton equipped with an audio message allows pedestrians to activate the equipment.
This project was the first to use the new TS1000 controller. The device is designed to make drivers aware earlier with MUTCD-compliant (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices) flash patterns. One of nine preset flash patterns may be used. Or the system may be set to cycle through a different pattern on each activation. The TS1000 also controls how fixtures and advanced warning signs display flash patterns. Equipment may flash the same pattern, or different patterns, simultaneously or alternately (wig-wag).
The installation team was ready after Ed Campbell provided an initial briefing. Ted Vaeches, Marketing Manager for TSC, provided further on-site support to ensure the installation proceeded problem free. Ms. Elsensohn expressed her satisfaction with the results, “Everyone using the system is responding to it favorably. It’s slowing down motorists because they’re aware of the crosswalk system…it’s helping both the drivers and the pedestrians in that area.”
A combination of equipment is providing the utmost in safety for the hospital. The equipment works together to alert drivers earlier while increasing visibility of pedestrians in the crosswalk. The site-specific configuration is protecting employees, patients, and drivers, making the crosswalk safer for everyone.
More info:
Crosswalk Warning Lights