Thursday, May 8, 2003 | 11:18 a.m.
If you're crossing the street and happen to notice a large pair of electronic eyes looking down on you, don't be alarmed. They are there to help.
The device, known as "ped eyes," is one of many items that researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas plan to test at dangerous intersections throughout the valley. The hope is to find a device or a combination of devices that will help lower the high rate of pedestrian deaths in Las Vegas.
"(What) we intend to do here is to try new strategies that have either not been tried in the United States or are untested," said Shashi Nambisan, UNLV's director of the Transportation Research Center.
The transportation center received $1.1 million in March from the Federal Highway Administration and various transportation agencies in Nevada. UNLV was chosen along with San Francisco and the University of Florida to conduct studies simultaneously, using the same types of devices.
The two-pronged study is designed to look for reasons behind Las Vegas' high pedestrian fatality rate and then suggest ways to lower that rate.
Nevada was the seventh most deadly state in the nation for pedestrians last year, according to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report.
There have been 21 pedestrian fatalities this year in Las Vegas. That number compares with 14 pedestrian deaths last year during the same period of time, according to Erin Breen, UNLV's director of Safe Community Partnership.
"Last year we thought, 'Oh my God, things could not get worse,' but they did," Breen said. "Even more people have been killed this year."
Researchers have found the area's long straightaways, wide streets and poorly marked crosswalks are key problems that lead to fatalities. But the second phase of the UNLV study, which officially began a month ago, will experiment with ways to counter those problems. As a result motorists may see some strange changes.
Various devices will be placed at 18 locations in Clark County by September. Most of the study sites will be located between Interstate 15 and Tropicana Avenue.
Some of the devices that motorists and pedestrians may see around town are:
An electronic board displaying a pair of eyes, placed at an intersection with a crosswalk. When a pedestrian presses the crosswalk button, the eyes flash, alerting motorists to look for a pedestrian. Two additional boxes will light up either to the left or right of the street to signal the driver where to look for the pedestrian.
A countdown clock, which would show pedestrians how many seconds they have to get across the intersection.
A light that turns on at a dark intersection whenever a pedestrian approaches.
A speed trailer that not only registers the speed of the motorist but includes the amount they would be fined had a police officer stopped them.
Each location will be outfitted with a particular device and then monitored remotely by camera. Researchers will use the camera to count foot and car traffic, but will also be counting dangerous incidents.
"You don't just want to find out how many people are getting killed or injured," said Bruce Mackey of the state education office for bicycle and pedestrian safety. "It is, how many conflicts have you avoided? There's not such a large jump from conflict to fatality."
Researchers will then use all of the information to assess how well the devices worked. The experiment will conclude in about three years.
The objective for UNLV researchers is to introduce new ways of preventing traffic fatalities in dangerous intersections. If the devices work, they will be added to a massive manual of other traffic signals approved by the Federal Highway Administration, Breen said.
"It's our job to make sure that pedestrians feel safe crossing the street without fear of getting hit," Breen said. "We're just trying to get people's attention and say, 'Hey, watch out for these folks.' "
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