TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 26

TRAFFIC LIGHTS

HAZARD OF FAILURE

A NEW AMERICAN BULB '

Fatalities have been caused by the burning out of incandescent lamps that illuminate the red lenses of traffic sig nals ; states a lepoit in the American Pi ess. A failure of this sort provides a conbidciable hazard, especially as the green lenses facing the intersecting high-nay remain illuminated. The motonst who should be leceiving an indication to stop is given no indica tion at all, while druers on the intersecting st;eet are being informed that the way is clear. A like hazard is created by failure of the green to show. The approach ing driver sees only a t daik lens, and assumes that the signal is not in opeiation. Therefore, he is not alert for any change of indication, As the amber or red light i* suddenly

flashed. on,',he' makes,' a sudden, stpp: that isl-likely^o Result ift^^collisioiit-with ,theV.qar-;V?hiiid;:i\:Mi;v;' 'Wil'v^'/r^-hi': • ' /To prevent such traffic -light; failure the, Police pspartmeiit -of; Baltimore jrecently. installed ipj 3pO-: signals,; a. neiy 'type ofl :;,incandescent.;ilamp.;\;;'r-Itl i:}?;a ooa--■gtructedHvitt two fi)amentsr;piaced par,-; allel^ithyeach:othe.r aud ( slightly i .sp.ac.edi by- aVrcentral.tmetal; ; screen.; \ .^Normally/ both'j lllaments.i itLiTa incandescent;-, attd the. Satire; -bulb; Js^illumiiiated;' How;pver, ■. upon.l the: failure -:-6t either, iflla-i mentj-.thefscreen.cause3-, the,-lamp to: be divided into^cbntrasting^bright-Land1 dark^areasf. S This^effect-is.Te.prodnced; b'n\ti'e">Bigßiaiy4Bn«/-ap J dr.thuV-vgiyes^uk-; mistakableij notification ; --that i; the; 'lamp: should <beVTeplaced< -: %i ( tjme iliumination' is v'still sprovided,' oji tithe bright; portion f'of^.- ; t)ie>letß,*;'enajlihg^lie; signal;to"be lead 'clearly by jnptorists^ ' -Patrolmen,: niptor : men, <-and" bus driyers'are''instrnctei ly-thVlocation "of ' any" sigriarthai" gives warning Ip'f' Jh impending f burn-out by showing-aidarkencd;;facet^;-: ; These- reports ;:'are :relayed to. the -traffic.-riiiain-: tentinces jneri,^--who quickly feplace-.tho lainpiv:':')--"1; \yf.-\- :r.--^::>:L:-' i,i':} ■ -V^;/-;r.'^v'

Jhe;fact;flMfr"mafty; mQj^B^?r^^:!wlour-fcUtKijs,the;Uignaj(s:i of fjjpiugori&ha-y!? • 'also <:bejettyeguip'pes AYitHrfiiplb^r^ienses. U^di^m |bfl ; readu;b.yi. drivers i^l^Uc^^irlttir^phfi^enE.?^* red. iens'i^isV.ho'rizon.'tol,; y; !t]ni, positioJK tendiig>jtb::Conyey::tlie; imprpssiohvoft*! barrigri H:,TJie/jpbsition?rbf.:;the the Jgreen sglass■ is vVeriiifalv'anii' creatfea naiijWsiaisdiaconaKb^nclr-giyingsaCl!?^! dii^<;ibiair.l;Mpres^ioiiiV;,i:',:;::»;;:i'j;;; : ;:.;}iv.! M- Eath^bandiia Jan- integralipart .ofi^thej 'len;^a,B'dyi.^iffei:g i^ifrpin<: fith'o .ieniaiiiing' areaiVKcca^fi ',pf <■ :ife sprismatic'^trui-; tuA^^l^^afldsijarej'cle^rly^dißtiiiJ gui'shaWe;|iffiv;jtitei:: ciroiilarißen's^aie&tfbri ttc9nMd6ribiadJa|Mce>;ana'ip^estriah,Bj P*SiiV^^, thein^S^iv*lHawoinot6irist*i;«-i^ s■& i-.^:j