Responding to Concerned Citizens
Fort Lauderdale, Florida officials recently installed one of our LED crosswalk lighting systems on Las Olas Blvd at SE 13th Street. The crosswalk is located where drivers leaving nearby shopping areas begin to speed up as they transition to a faster roadway.
The safety system was introduced in a response to a recent survey that found building “more walkable and bikeable streets” was one of the top requests made by citizens in the area. In Florida, from 2008 to 2011, 180 pedestrians were killed on Broward County roads – second only to Miami-Dade County.
Safer Streets in South Florida
A recent Sun Sentinel article describes the elevated need for this kind of system in the South Florida region:
“The lights are a first, and more importantly, a must. The $50,000 crosswalk makes its first debut on a public road in South Florida next month, and the new technology couldn’t come at a better time.
Pedestrian safety is always an issue in South Florida, a region that typically leads the nation in the number of pedestrian fatalities and hit-and-runs. Fortunately, studies show motorists brake sooner and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when they see flashing lights or an illuminated crosswalk.”
The innovative traffic safety device is proven to reduce roadway accidents leading pedestrian injuries and fatalities, making in South Florida’s streets safer.
The system uses ultra-bright LEDs that can be seen up to 1,500 feet away – even in sunny daytime conditions. Now, as Las Olas drivers leave the main shopping areas they’ll have increased awareness of pedestrians in the roadway, both day and night.
More info:
Crosswalk Warning Lights