traffic light blinds.

[weekbladder]

What are those venetian blinds fitted to traffic lights for?I thought you were supposed to see a green light then proceed if safe to do so,I now end up sitting waiting for someone to blow their horn as they can see the light if they are 30 yards from the stop line.If traffic lights are too bright they should buy some 9w low energy bulbs it could save the planet.

[Who me ?]

I suspect the blinds are there for when sun shines and blots out the colour lit at the time .

[Rawwr]

You really haven't thought about this, have you?

[mudster]

They're so another vehicle on a different approach can't see the signal. You should be able to see the signal properly from the approach that the light is relevant to though. Post a Google Streetview link to the location.

[GC8]

mudster said:

They're so another vehicle on a different approach can't see the signal. You should be able to see the signal properly from the approach that the light is relevant to though. Post a Google Streetview link to the location.

Or to prevent false greens for drivers not paying sufficient attention at nearby lights.

[jagracer]

Rawwr said:

You really haven't thought about this, have you?

Care to share your theory then?

[mudster]

GC8 said:

mudster said:

They're so another vehicle on a different approach can't see the signal. You should be able to see the signal properly from the approach that the light is relevant to though. Post a Google Streetview link to the location.

Or to prevent false greens for drivers not paying sufficient attention at nearby lights.

Exactly. Not so much of a safety problem if two phases both see reds.

[weekbladder]

Sorry don't know how to do the googlemaps thing but Queens Drive Liverpool is littered with these things which are misaligned so the signal can't be seen from the first few rows of traffic waiting at lights.Usually they are used when there is only one direction of traffic so the false green argument does not apply.Yes I did think this through but when the HSE make me use a flashing light and reversing buzzer to stop people walking under my 14tonne bright yellow JCB because they can't see it I think obscuring signals more dangerous than letting me see them and misinterpret them.Thanks for the responses I will try and get with the programme and drive to work tomorrow with a bucket on my head to avoid unhelpful distractions.

[Nigel Worc's]

We've got a set of lights like this in Worcester, as with the OP, I'm at a loss as to what it achieves here either.

[weekbladder]

Thanks Nige glad I am not alone,how about this one,put the speed limit on the back of speed cameras so we know what to slow down to before we hit those little lines on the road or am I going to far with that one.

[Nigel Worc's]

weekbladder said:

Thanks Nige glad I am not alone,how about this one,put the speed limit on the back of speed cameras so we know what to slow down to before we hit those little lines on the road or am I going to far with that one.

I'd rather they were burnt to be honest.

I think you can be sure those blinds wont be to enhance the driving experience, or improve traffic flow.

I've often wondered, and I am probably wide of the mark, but I notice them more around City locations where newbuild flats have appeared, and I wondered if they are because someone has complained about the traffic lights shining through their windows, as some of these new style LED ones are much brighter than their old filament light source jobbies.

[silverfoxcc]

The ones on the westbound A329 at Amen corner outside Bracknell are right buggers. Impossible to se until you are on top of them

[weekbladder]

Now that sounds plausible all the ones I see are in built up areas ,but if it was me I would have put in a dimmer bulb rather than hide it behind metal .I suppose that why I just build stuff not design it.