You'd never know Ralph Pickens is 84 years old. His youthful outlook on life
belies his age. Pickens is an active fellow from the Rock Springs community
whose interests are many and varied. Fortunately for all of us, one of his
interests is traffic safety.
Pickens has invented a device called the Early Emergency Detection System
that will let drivers know when an emergency vehicle is approaching. The concept
is similar to that of a radar detector. It is activated simply by plugging it
into the vehicle's cigarette lighter. Emergency vehicles equipped with the
proper transmitter could send a signal to your car's EEDS. Your unit would then
notify you with a flashing light, a recorded message, and a buzzer that the
emergency vehicles are approaching. Even at a speed of 60 mph, you'd have a half
minute's warning to get out of the way.
There are about 20,000 accidents nationwide every year involving emergency
vehicles that are going to or coming from an emergency. The accidents often
occur at intersections. For firefighters, those accidents are the second leading
cause of death. EMS and police personnel are also in the high-risk category. The
problem is that it's hard for drivers to hear them coming, and often hard to
decide what to do when you look up to suddenly see the flashing lights in your
mirror.
Kingsport Police Chief Mark Addington explains, "Loud stereos, insulation and
air conditioning, rolled up windows, and especially cell phones are distracting
drivers from paying attention to what is approaching them from the rear, from
the side, or the road ahead." With the Early Emergency Detection System, drivers
wouldn't miss the message. Even a school bus driver with a load of noisy
children or people who are hard of hearing would have the opportunity to get out
of the way safely.
The EEDS could also be implemented by railroads, so that there would be fewer
accidents at railroad crossings.
State Rep. Steve Godsey has already presented the EEDS to the Tennessee
Department of Transportation for its consideration. Pickens has applied for a
patent, and he's excited about the prospect of developing and implementing his
system. "Emergency personnel put their lives on the line each day to protect the
public," he says. "With the EEDS, the public can be a help rather than a
hindrance."
Kudos to Ralph Pickens for his endeavor to reduce the devastating effects of
emergency vehicle crashes, and for his persistence in the development of his
invention. He's helping save the lives of those who help save us.
