2011年2月2日星期三

Flexible Traffic Light Wraps Around Trees

Any city likely already has all the traffic lights it needs, so any green alternative immediately blows away its environmentally-friendly credentials by replacing known-good hardware. However, the Wearable Signal is clever enough to merit a mention, and has some extra uses that justify it.

The concept traffic light, by Gisung Han, Hwanju Jeon and Jaemin Lee, comes in two parts: a flexible LED belt that wraps around street furniture and a solar lid which protects it, shades it and powers it. Because it can wrap around an existing pole, or even a tree, there's no need to build anything to hold it.

The Wearable Signal is perfect for temporary uses, whether roadworks or emergency use, and it also looks cheap to make. I see two potential problems: first, the cylindrical design means that you can easily see the signal for traffic coming in other direction, creating potentially dangerous confusion. Second, easy-on can mean easy-off. This would be a target for students out to decorate their dorm rooms, and way easier to carry home than a regular traffic light.

Another approach, in city centers at least, is to remove traffic signals and road marking all together. The thinking goes that when people aren't feeling so entitled by green lights, they slow down at all junctions and are generally more careful and civil. Tests in Europe have found that congestion is also reduced.

Signs on a Tree [Yanko]

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