Use of Animated "EYES" So That Motorists Leaving an Indoor Parking Garage Look for Pedestrians

Abstract

Approximately 14 percent of reported pedestrian crashes occur on private property, most often in a commercial or other parking lot. One way to increase pedestrian safety where the sidewalk crosses the exits of indoor and outdoor parking garages is to prompt motorists to look for pedestrians when exiting the garage. As a possible countermeasure, an animated "EYES" display was erected at an indoor parking garage exit. The animated EYES signal head included two eyes with eyeballs that scanned from left to right at a rate of one cycle per second. Analysis of the data collected during the study indicated that more than a third of the motorists leaving the garage did not look in either direction for pedestrians before crossing the sidewalk. The introduction of the animated EYES increased motorists' observing behavior and reduced pedestrian-motor vehicle conflicts.