Matthew Wild
Wheelchair road safety lights
TetraLites tackle a particular vulnerability faced by anyone in a wheelchair: being lower than other pedestrians, motorists tend not to notice wheelchairs at intersections.
Check out my other shots in this sequence that show how difficult it can be to spot someone in a wheelchair crossing at a busy intersection. (Particularly this: www.flickr.com/photos/38722915@N04/6505888417/in/photostream)
The TetraLites design features three rows of 15 LED lights, in Plexiglas tubes, which mount to the sides and rear of a wheelchair or can be set vertically like a flagpole. They draw a negligible amount from powerchair batteries, or can be connected to rechargeable batteries for use on a manual chair.
The brilliant idea came from Tetra Society of North America volunteer Brian Johnson, following a conversation with Eric Molendyk – seen here – who was struck by a car at an intersection on his way to work in November 2008. He was wearing high-vis clothing, and crossing correctly, but the driver was making a turn into traffic – she didn’t notice him, being lower than other pedestrians.
More about Tetra: www.tetrasociety.org
Wheelchair road safety lights
TetraLites tackle a particular vulnerability faced by anyone in a wheelchair: being lower than other pedestrians, motorists tend not to notice wheelchairs at intersections.
Check out my other shots in this sequence that show how difficult it can be to spot someone in a wheelchair crossing at a busy intersection. (Particularly this: www.flickr.com/photos/38722915@N04/6505888417/in/photostream)
The TetraLites design features three rows of 15 LED lights, in Plexiglas tubes, which mount to the sides and rear of a wheelchair or can be set vertically like a flagpole. They draw a negligible amount from powerchair batteries, or can be connected to rechargeable batteries for use on a manual chair.
The brilliant idea came from Tetra Society of North America volunteer Brian Johnson, following a conversation with Eric Molendyk – seen here – who was struck by a car at an intersection on his way to work in November 2008. He was wearing high-vis clothing, and crossing correctly, but the driver was making a turn into traffic – she didn’t notice him, being lower than other pedestrians.
More about Tetra: www.tetrasociety.org