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Energy efficient traffic lights prove hazardous
By siliconindia
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Wednesday, 16 December 2009, 18:43 IST |
4 Comments
Milwaukee: In an attempt to save energy, cities have been installing energy efficient traffic lights, however there is a hitch in this green initiative because these lights don't generate enough heat to melt the snow on them. This negative aspect of the lights has been the reason for dozens of road accidents in the U.S., with some resulting in death.
Several regions have started using LED bulbs in the traffic lights because they consume 90 percent less energy than the old incandescent bulbs. Their advantage proves to be their downside as well, because they don't waste energy by producing heat, reports Associated Press. Authorities in several U.S. states are now testing possible solutions to this issue, including installing weather shields, adding heating elements like those used in airport runway lights, or coating the lights with water-repellent substances.
In some places cool-burning LEDs were installed more than a decade ago, and it wasn't long before drivers started complaining about the problem. Authorities in Illinois said that during a storm in April this year, 34-year-old Lisa Richter saw that she had a green light and began turning her car to the left. A driver coming from the opposite direction did not realize that the spotlight was obscured by snow and crashed into Lisa's vehicle, which resulted in her death. According to traffic experts, one reason there have been few deaths due to this problem is that drivers know that they should treat a traffic signal with obstructed lights as a stop sign.
