New LED traffic lights last longer, save energy but...
Jstas
Posts: 14,806
...can't melt snow.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/
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Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow
by Michael Harley on Dec 16th 2009 at 5:31PM
Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures.
"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" It obviously isn't.
Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. "If there's any question, you err on the side of caution," says Hansen.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/
←→
Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow
by Michael Harley on Dec 16th 2009 at 5:31PM
Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures.
"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" It obviously isn't.
Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. "If there's any question, you err on the side of caution," says Hansen.
Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on
Comments
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Lovely. As if driving in snowy conditions isn't hard enough. Now you gotta 4-way stop? They need to put clear covers over the sunshades. Problem solved.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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That' too funny. Shows they followed the right qualification process :rolleyes:_________________________________________________
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That's funny...as soon as I saw the first LED traffic light, I mentioned that very thing.
"Won't they have problems with snow building up in them?"The nirvana inducer-
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Lovely. As if driving in snowy conditions isn't hard enough. Now you gotta 4-way stop? They need to put clear covers over the sunshades. Problem solved.
The sign beside the light is a flat surface....how do you like your problem solving now?CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint. -
The sign beside the light is a flat surface....how do you like your problem solving now?
That's a metal sign with a textured surface (that reflective coating). Snow sticks to that much more than it would to something like polished lexan. Ok, it may not be the perfect solution, but I'm sure it would be better than what is shown.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
I think they should pay really tall dude to drink beer and pee on the lights.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
That's a metal sign with a textured surface (that reflective coating). Snow sticks to that much more than it would to something like polished lexan. Ok, it may not be the perfect solution, but I'm sure it would be better than what is shown.
Isn't the reason they have the sun cover int he first place to remove glare? Putting polished lexan on there would kind of reintroduce the problem they were trying to solve in the first place.If you will it, dude, it is no dream. -
I think they should pay really tall dude to drink beer and pee on the lights.
That's hilarious! I'm glad we don't have to deal with that much in my neck of the woods. -
jmwest1970 wrote: »That's hilarious! I'm glad we don't have to deal with that much in my neck of the woods.
I was gonna say, in the South these may serve the purpose nicely. Back to the drawing board.:rolleyes:Polk Audio Surround Bar 360
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Not a problem a lager cap and the bottom open snow slides off if it can even get in.
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bobman1235 wrote: »Isn't the reason they have the sun cover int he first place to remove glare? Putting polished lexan on there would kind of reintroduce the problem they were trying to solve in the first place.
You can see most tail lights on cars, right? Most of them are covered by polished ABS or Polycarbonate.
I'm sure the traffic engineers will come up with something that works.For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore... -
Not a problem a lager cap and the bottom open snow slides off if it can even get in.
Think, then type.
A larger cap on the lower (yellow, green) lights wouuld simply block the lights above them. Plus you can't have an 'open bottom' because, again, the red and yellow lights are above other lights that need a sun cap.
Snow is pretty random, it can blow around in circles, so really can come from any direction; no amount of "clever" use of shades is going to block it.If you will it, dude, it is no dream. -
Also to eliminate those that 'red light predict' from driving up on an intersection and trying to beat the timing......I've noticed that those shades seem to be getting deeper in some places......bobman1235 wrote: »Isn't the reason they have the sun cover int he first place to remove glare? Putting polished lexan on there would kind of reintroduce the problem they were trying to solve in the first place.comment comment comment comment. bitchy. -
Unreal. To say I'm shocked would be an understatement. :rolleyes:
