Many cities, across the country, have been switching to L.E.D. traffic lights. The L.E.D lights are reported to be 90% more energy efficient than conventional traffic lights.
What’s the problem?
While the L.E.D lights are working out pretty good in Orlando Fl, they are creating winter driving hazards in Milwaukee. Because L.E.D.s don’t produce heat, like a conventional light, they don’t melt snow and ice. The snow covered lights can’t be seen.
Northern cities have been working on solutions to the problem. Solutions range from; workers clearing the lights by hand to blowing away the snow with compressed air.
My favorite proposal is adding heaters to the lights. I am waiting to see how energy efficient that is.
Good article from Yahoo News. Energy-efficient traffic lights can’t melt snow
During snow, motorists, should approach the intersection, and treat them, as if there is a power outage, and the light isn’t working at all. The rules for uncontrolled intersections can be found in the motorist rule book in any state.
