Although in-pavement LEDs at crosswalks are commonly used in regions with favourable climates, they have yet to be tested in a typical Canadian winter. In 2003, the City of Airdrie initiated a pilot project with the first generation of in-pavement LEDs. Although driver and publis respose was favourable, snowplows and streetsweepers have damaged the lenses on these LEDs to the point they were not functioning as intended. A different system was installed at two intersections in October 2007, and as of March 2008 no damage has been noticed from winter miantenance activities (plows and sanders). This project was nominated for the 2007 TAC Road Safety Engineering Award. For the covering abstract of this conference see ITRD number E216597.
Abstract