From now until the end of the year, all donations to CT Mirror will be matched dollar-for-dollar as we aim to raise $160,000.
Get the free briefing to join the conversation. Plastic Injection Molding China
Did you ever wonder why our street stoplights designate red as “stop” and green as “go?”
Well, in the 1840s the British railroads adopted a flag, lamp and semaphore signal system where red meant danger, white meant safety and green indicated proceed with caution. They took their inspiration from early industrialization where factory machines used red to indicate the equipment was off and green when turned on.
But one time the red glass lens on a signal lamp dropped out of its socket, showing a white light, which then caused a rail collision. Traditionally red has evoked danger and green, a more calming influence. But it was optical science that reinforced the choice.
Red has the longest wavelength in the visible spectrum and is less likely to be interfered with by other light sources in what’s known as “light scattering.” Think of fog or dust in the air. Red light penetrates best.
By the 1860s traffic conditions in London prompted officials to seek a way of controlling horse-drawn carriages with a signal system and opted for the railroad scheme of color-coded semaphores and lights controlled by a policeman, often perched on a raised kiosk in the middle of the intersection.
You can credit American police officer William Potts for the invention of the first traffic lights in Detroit in 1920. But back then they were still sequenced by an officer, making traffic control expensive. Eventually, a timer system was introduced to sequence the flow. But there was also a system activated by sound.
A microphone was installed on the light pole and when a car approached it would honk its horn and the light would turn green… but just for ten seconds to allow that one car to get through. You can imagine the problem that was going to create.
Today we use not only timers but some sophisticated measuring devices to sequence traffic lights, including inductive loops. You’ve probably seen signs of them, buried in the pavement, as you pull up to an intersection,. They measure the metal in cars as they drive over them, allowing the system to know that a car is there waiting for a green signal.
Do you know the answer? Play this week's news quiz to find out.
Even the traffic lights themselves have improved. They now measure either eight or 12 inches in diameter and must be visible in every lighting condition. The older incandescent bulbs that illuminated them use to burn at 175 watts and needed constant replacement. Now they’re being replaced with high endurance LED lamps which give as much light but only require 10 – 25 watts of electricity.
At many Connecticut intersections there are also sensors on the light poles detecting the strobe lights or special radio signals emitted by emergency vehicles, giving them the right of way.
To help the 13 million Americans who are color blind, stoplights are always arranged with red on top and green on the bottom.
Given the sophisticated technology and engineering time spent on designing a stoplight system for an intersection, they’re not cheap. A fully equipped setup can cost between $250,000 and a half-million dollars with an annual maintenance cost of $8,000. That’s why towns and CDOT are so reluctant to add new lights, despite requests.
We've found the healthiest way to sustain and grow CT Mirror is through the support of people who use and value it — loyal, engaged readers like you.
Please make a gift today.
Fog Lamp Jim Cameron is founder of the Commuter Action Group and advocates for Connecticut rail riders. He writes this weekly column called "Talking Transportation" for CT Mirror and other publications in the state. Read past Talking Transportation columns by clicking the "More by Jim Cameron" link below. Contact Jim at TalkingTransportationCT@gmail.com.