Inspired by a series of fatal pedestrian traffic incidents in Santa Rosa, California in 1991, Harrison developed the first LightGuard system as a safety aid for installation at pedestrian crossings and started LightGuard Systems to produce them.
“The experimental ‘Crosswalk Warning System’, also known as the ‘LightGuard System’ or the ‘Santa Rosa Lights’ consists of warning lights housed in a unit which is installed on the pavement adjacent to a marked crosswalk.
The lights reflect out toward the oncoming traffic to warn drivers of a pedestrian’s presence.”[4] Developed with an embedded pavement flashing-light system, the LightGuard system includes flashing lights and other visual cues to influence driver behavior near pedestrian crossings.
[7] Reports cite that studies conducted at specific locations where no traffic signal was present have shown lighted crosswalk systems like those produced by LightGuard and other manufacturers[2] increased driver awareness of crosswalks, increasing pedestrian safety.
[4] LightGuard has installed its eponymous system in locations throughout the US, including at the Miami International Airport and others at San Francisco City Hall,[1] as well as sites in Mexico.