SA creates world's safest traffic light pole

[MadCow809]

A new South African innovation is being heralded as the world’s first truly safe traffic light system and is currently being piloted on the streets of Johannesburg.


The world's frist modular traffic lights
The Modular Traffic Light System (MTLS) is the safest in the world as the entire system is composed of polymer or plastic with no steel or metal components, explains the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA). The system poses minimal danger to motorists in the unfortunate circumstance of a collision with the traffic light.

The system is the first of its kind in the world and was designed by project director Barry Geer for the Johannesburg Roads Agency. Each traffic light pole is created from individual plastic segments that stack on top of each other and are then held together in compression by a lightweight rope.

In the event of a collision, only broken segments of the light will need replacement, making the repairs up to 80 percent cheaper than the current system.

The system can also be adapted to accommodate traffic monitoring equipment such as digital cameras which will assist law enforcers in spotting offenders.

The first set of the new traffic lights can be seen on the corners of Sandton and Grayston Drives, in Sandton.

According to the JRA, there is a growing global trend towards the legislation of safe road side obstacles particularly traffic signals and street lights.

In an international study conducted by the University of Adelaide in Australia, it was found that 30% of all accidents around the world involve impacts with traffic lights and street lights. Close to three percent of these are fatal.

The JRA's Chris Bruyns says “We at JRA and MTLS are proud that a solution to this global problem has been born and bred in South Africa and Johannesburg in particular being the first city world wide to have installed this system.”

thing is probably so flimy that a strong wind can rip up the whole pole. i prefer UK's idea of using a bendable material as light pole.

[prizrak]

I like the US idea better. Steel pole with a big steel base and is dug a foot into a concrete. If your car runs into it it WILL STOP, which is something that I think is a good idea when you PEOPLE on SIDEWALKS that could be possibly hurt by a retard who is going fast enough to run into a traffic light poll.

[emil_t]

Originally Posted by prizrak

I like the US idea better. Steel pole with a big steel base and is dug a foot into a concrete. If your car runs into it it WILL STOP, which is something that I think is a good idea when you PEOPLE on SIDEWALKS that could be possibly hurt by a retard who is going fast enough to run into a traffic light poll.

yes, but if a retarded pedestrian jumps in front of you out of nowhere, you would be glad that the pole you are about to hit, trying to avoid the pedestrian, is made out of plastic or whatever, it's all about compromise in the end

[Viper007Bond]

Originally Posted by emil_t

yes, but if a retarded pedestrian jumps in front of you out of nowhere, you would be glad that the pole you are about to hit, trying to avoid the pedestrian, is made out of plastic or whatever, it's all about compromise in the end

That's why you hit the retarded pedestrian instead.

[NooDle]

I like.

Anything that adds safety without stupid rules (ie speedcameras) is good in my books. The flexy UK poles are good too, does the job of stopping you without killing you, which is nice

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

That's why you hit the retarded pedestrian instead.

+100000

[Lupin_IV]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

That's why you hit the retarded pedestrian instead.

[prizrak]

Originally Posted by Lupin_IV

AWESOME. I wish that were true

(OK I'm not THAT bad but sometimes they just deserve it)

[tigger]

That's just inviting some prick to go around running them over. I know because ... I want to run one over .

[American TG Man]

Originally Posted by tigger

That's just inviting some prick to go around running them over. I know because ... I want to run one over .

But running over a pole designed to give way isn't as much fun as trying to destroy traffic devices that are supposed to be indestructible.

[airmenair]

They should have just made them out of giant legos