Archive News Story
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Stop Sign utilizes LEDs to optimize visibility.
July 14, 2005 - Edge-Lit LED Stop Sign is compliant with US Federal Highways Administration Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. Light from high-flux, ultra-bright LEDs concealed in sign frame shines vertically through clear acrylic sheet and refracts outwards through sign legend for uniform illumination of sign face. Six foot sign requires less than 15 W, compared to 192 W for fluorescent sign. Retro-reflective construction ensures visibility in event of power failure.
Archive Press Release
(Products mentioned in this Archive Press Release may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Release date: July 5, 2005
Carmanah Uses LED Illumination to Build a Safer Stop Sign
Carmanah unveils world’s first energy efficient Edge-Lit illuminated Stop Sign
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, July 5, 2005 - Carmanah Technologies Inc. is pleased to announce a new roadway application for its innovative LED edge-lit sign lighting technology: the LED-illuminated stop sign.
Inadvertently running stop signs is a serious and persistent problem in rural areas where drivers lose concentration and in urban settings where drivers are often distracted. In fact, in the U.S., accidents at stop signs account for about 79,000 crashes per year.
Carmanah's new LED edge-lit stop sign provides an intersection safety solution that is significantly less expensive than a traffic signal installation and 90 percent more energy efficient than fluorescent backlit signs.
Carmanah developed the octagonal sign frame, compliant with the U.S. Federal Highways Administration Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), for a city in Texas where eight problem intersections have been identified for trial of illuminated stop signs. Other locations will be considered after an evaluation of the initial installation.
"We are delighted that the possibilities of our edge-lit signage have captured the imagination of traffic officials," said Carmanah's CEO Art Aylesworth. "The illuminated stop sign is an exemplary application of our versatile LED edge-lit sign technology."
LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology is rapidly becoming the preferred light source for illuminated signs. In an LED edge-lit sign, light from high-flux, ultra-bright LEDs concealed in the sign frame shines vertically through a clear acrylic sheet and refracts outwards through the sign legend for crisp, uniform illumination of the sign face.
The result is improved stop sign visibility at all distances and in all conditions, and an expected reduction in the incidence of crashes. Enhanced sign visibility gives drivers more time to stop and addresses the visibility needs of older drivers.
Advantages of Carmanah's LED edge-lit signage include:
• Ultra-slim construction, easy and inexpensive to install;
• Maintenance intervals 10 times that of fluorescent tubes, eliminating the significant recurring costs of bulb and ballast replacement. White LEDs have a lifespan of 50,000 hours;
• Extreme energy efficiency. A six-foot sign requires less than 15 watts, compared to 192 watts for a fluorescent sign (Carmanah is an EPA Energy Star® partner);
• Retro-reflective construction ensures visibility in the event of a power failure, and low wattage facilitates the option of battery backup.
Sign illumination is an increasing priority as the world’s populations age. Starting at age 20, the amount of light needed by drivers to see doubles every 13 years. According to FHWA studies, older drivers have reduced contrast sensitivity and greater difficulty isolating relevant visual targets, requiring more time to process information and react appropriately. When consulted, they have indicated a need for bigger and brighter stop signs.
Carmanah is a leader in the field of LED edge-lit illumination, with over 11 years of expertise and 50,000 signs installed worldwide. Traffic agencies in over 12 states have already installed Carmanah's next-generation LED-illuminated street-name and traffic control signs. Customers include the cities of St. Charles (MO), Camarillo (CA), Broomfield (CO), and Tyler (TX).
For complete information about Carmanah's roadway lighting products, visit www.roadlights.com
ABOUT CARMANAH
Carmanah is an award-winning manufacturer of proprietary LED-based lighting and illumination products for the public transit, marine, aviation, roadway, and industrial worksite and illuminated signage markets. The Company has more than 100,000 solar-powered LED lighting installations and 50,000 LED illuminated sign installations in 110 countries. The shares of Carmanah Technologies Corporation are publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "CMH" and on the Berlin and Frankfurt Stock Exchanges under the symbol "QCX". For more information, please visit www.carmanah.com.Company Information: Name: Carmanah Technologies, Inc. Address: Bldg. 4, 203 Harbour Rd. City: Victoria State: BC ZIP: V9A3S2 Country: Canada Phone: 877-722-8877 FAX: 250-380-2275 http://www.carmanah.com
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