Magic Ray of Safety

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22468, 11 July 1936, Page 15 (Supplement)

Magic Ray of Safety

NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT

LOCAL body members and those interested in traffic control and road safety generally will bo pleased to hear that tho new system of traffic control signals installed a few weeks ago in St. Holier Avenue, a section of the Sutton by-pass road at Mordcn, England, underwent its first severe test of efficiency satisfactorily a few weeks ago during the three days of tho Epsom Spring Meeting, 0110 of the occasions when the race traffic imposes an extra heavy burden on this particular road. The signals arc worked by tho photoelectric ray method —or "the invisible ray,'' as it is popularly called. This is tho first time that tho ray has been used for controlling traffic. Tho principle of the invisible ray automaton is the interruption of a beam of light resulting in a reaction which can bo employed in endless ways. In this case the pedestrian (or even his little finger or bis umbrella) is the interrupter, and his presence, as ho steps toward the curb to cross the road, in this beam of light is employed to alter the traffic lights in his favour. If there is no traffic immediately approaching at the time tho change is almost instantaneous; if, on the other hand, there is a stream of vehicles going by, the pedestrian will have to wait until there is a comparative lull in its passage before tho lights change in his favour. The Ministry of Transport, tho authority responsible for these new lights, made a series of observations during the

three busy days of tho race meeting on tho efficacy of what is, avowedly, quito an experiment in automatic traffic control. The official reports are not yet available, but inquiries in the neighbourhood show that they meet with the approval of local observers.