In the streets of our cities, the traffic lights are devices that help us to maintain order and safety, but did you know that any person can control them? This through a crosswalk button or pedestrian push button, an easy and efficient solution by just stretching your hand.
What a pedestrian push button is?
Imagine you are walking in city and you get to a corner where there’s no traditional traffic light, but a post with button and a sign with the indication “Press to cross”; is a pedestrian traffic light with button.
This type of traffic lights is specifically designed for pedestrians. In comparison to conventional traffic lights, that work with fixed cycles of time, these devices answer to your request. Meaning, change from red to green to prioritize your times.
However, their functioning is not as simple as it seems, due is submitted to certain conditions to not affect transit of cars neither people.
How it works?
The mechanism of the pedestrian push button is pretty simple but creative.
When you push the button, you are sending a sign to the control system of the traffic lights.
This system receives your request, and in a pre-established time (than can vary according to location and traffic), change the lights to stop the traffic flow and allow people to cross safely.
This mechanism is programmed to work in the following way:
Push the button
When pushing the button, you activate the system and is important to do it anticipately due traffic lights don’t change immediately.
The traffic lights get ready
The system evaluates the traffic and in the adequate moment, change the light of vehicles from green to red (or red to green, depends on the case). You have to consider that change can’t be instant, but may delay a few seconds or even a minute depending on the programming.
Cross safely
Once the pedestrian light is in green (or appears the symbol of a pedestrian), you can cross the street safely. The pedestrian push button provides enough time for people to cross, but is always important to pay attention.
Why are these important?
These traffic lights are especially useful in zones where the pedestrian flow is not constant, but where safety is essential. For example, nearby schools, hospitals or parks. In addition, help to optimize traffic due only stop vehicles when is really necessary.
Tips for a correct use
- Push the button once, is not necessary to do it many times, the first contact is enough to activate the system.
- Wait patiently: change is not instant, so be patient. Remember that everything will depend on the quantity and flow of traffic.
- Cross carefully: even though traffic light is in green, look both ways before crossing.
Traffic lights with button are a simple but powerful tool that help us to move through city in the most safe and efficient way. The next time you see one, remember that the small button is to make an easier road.
Cross with confidence, but also, responsibly.
