LED - NEW LIGHT FOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERS

This article shows how light emitting diodes (LEDs) are revolutionising traffic signs and traffic signals. LEDs are solid state devices with no moving parts. For traffic departments, their advantages include: (1) lower costs; (2) significant energy savings; (3) reduced disruption to traffic by maintenance; and (4) increased safety by reducing the presence of workers on roadways. LEDs are already beginning to be used widely for variable message signs, as an alternative to incandescent and fibre optic display technologies. They have much higher reliability and life expectancy than these alternatives. Successful trials of LED traffic signals have been conducted in Caltrans District 6 in California, USA. The newest LEDs incorporate far superior crystals, which give them much better performance in hostile environments. Extensive retrofitting of existing traffic signals with LEDs seems likely to be conducted soon on a very large scale in the USA and Japan. However, in Europe, the regulatory process has not yet responded to LED technology. For the covering abstract see IRRD 867908.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32663949
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  120 South Street
  Dorking, Surrey RH4 2EU,   England 
• Authors:
  • GERLACH, K
  • THIELE, P
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 82-4
• Serial:
  • Traffic Technology International
  • Volume: WINTER
  • Publisher: AutoIntermediates Limited
  • ISSN: 1356-9252
  • Serial URL: http://www.ukipme.com/mag_traffic.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Design; Information display systems; Traffic signals; Traffic signs; Variable message signs; Visual display units
• Uncontrolled Terms: Visual display
• ITRD Terms: 9011: Design (overall design); 553: Traffic sign; 565: Traffic signal; 574: Variable message sign; 8630: Visual display
• Subject Areas: Design;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00675110
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Mar 28 1995 12:00AM