[RahulNagaraj]

An experimental traffic light has been set up in a suburb of Montreal, Canada, which only turns green for drivers who keep the car under the speed limit.

According to reports, the new light is called "feu de ralentissement educatif" (translating to educational traffic-calming light) or FRED. The traffic light is designed to stay red until it senses an oncoming car. It then turns green only if the oncoming car is under the speed limit. Fast cars will continue to be shown the red light, forcing them to stop at the signal.



The new traffic light is currently undergoing a 90-day test run outside of a public school in Quebec.

Mayor Assaad stated that the road with the new traffic light previously had an average vehicle speed of 40 km/h. However, since the instalment of FRED, the speeds have dropped to 29 km/h.

Source: Jalopnik

Link to Team-BHP news

[cryptarchy]

So, the opposite of Indian traffic lights that causes cars to speed up on turning red.

[Turbanator]

Good idea, I hope this is implemented during school hours only. Usual fixed signs are tricky as sometimes there are children in the school playground or on holidays, so most people will slow down. Ontario has some of the signs with flashing lights which are operational only during school time or as necessary. But this is even better, I like it.

[kiku007]

Interesting idea but it depends on the drivers respecting the red light.

On the other hand, Queensland is rolling out the, Hold the Red (HTR) intelligent crash avoidance system that uses radar to detect vehicles about to run a red light and implements a two-second delay that prevents other motorists or pedestrians from entering the intersection, which significantly reduces the risk of a collision with any red-light runners.

• HTR is installed into the Traffic Controller Cabinet at signalised intersections using a virtual loop card.
• The system uses radar to track each vehicle approaching an intersection up to 150m from the stop bar.
• This range provides the advantage of using radar over other alternatives such as existing induction loops as the radar system can dynamically track the speed of vehicles and predict when a vehicle approaching an intersection will not be able to stop in time.
• When such a vehicle is detected, HTR instructs the signal controls to extend the all-red phase by an extra 2 seconds.
• Law-abiding drivers in cross traffic lanes do not enter the intersection, reducing the chances they’ll enter into a potentially hazardous situation.
• When Speed or Red Light Cameras are operating at the intersection an infringement notice can also be issued to offenders, reinforcing behaviour change while minimising the risk of serious casualties.

[chaitanyakrish]

Interesting. It would be interesting to see what happens, if two vehicles come at the same time with different speeds, with one above the speed limit and the other, within the speed limit.