One of the main means of traffic control are traffic lights. Cars crossing a regulated intersection are required to drive solely as directed by these optical devices. This streamlining of traffic minimizes the possibility of an accident.
Traffic lights are a means of organizing traffic. In exceptional cases, namely, when the device is operating in an emergency mode, the traffic controller is responsible for coordinating the movement of cars.
Traffic signals
For the first time, a traffic light (semaphore) was installed in London and switched manually. Time, as they say, does not stand still. Everything is updated, developed, and traffic lights as well. Today, we are accustomed to see it as a device installed on the road. Traffic signals - red, yellow and green, are familiar to everyone.
The most common is a street traffic light (photo above); according to his signals, not only drivers, but also pedestrians are guided. However, in addition to such means of organizing traffic, there are other types used at level crossings, rivers, and so on.
Kinds
Traffic lights are divided into the following types:
- automobile (round);
- switch;
- with a flashing red signal;
- installed at level crossings;
- reversible;
- adapted for pedestrians, cyclists, fixed-route vehicles;
- tram.
- Rail.
- River.
- For motorsport.
Traffic lights for street transport - round
Each of us was taught how to navigate by signals in childhood. Their most familiar source is a three-color round traffic light, decorating an adjustable intersection and regulating the movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
What traffic signals does the traffic signal give?
- Red. It prohibits starting the passage / passage of the intersection. A flashing light of a given color has the same meaning.
- Yellow flashing - traffic is allowed. However, warns of danger at the intersection. It can also inform traffic participants that the traffic light is not working. If there is a traffic controller at the intersection, then travel is carried out according to his instructions.
- Yellow. The traffic light reports that the movement is prohibited and informs about the imminent color change.
- Green. Lets move.
- Green flashing. It does not prohibit movement. Informs that the prohibitor will turn on soon.
For some traffic lights, a digital display is installed at some traffic lights.
The simultaneous tanning of two colors (red and yellow) tells car drivers, pedestrians and other road users to prohibit passage / passage, and also that green will turn on soon.
Traffic lights with additional sections and arrows
These devices are installed at more busy intersections. Traffic lights have the form of arrows in the usual colors for us: red, yellow or green, and are endowed with the same meaning as round ones. The difference lies in the direction indicated. It is worth noting that the arrow that allows you to turn left also allows you to make a U-turn (except when the latter is prohibited by an additionally established traffic sign).
A round traffic light, on the lenses of which arrows are depicted, is located above each lane. It facilitates the orientation of the driver on the roadway, showing where he can go after the fire of the enable signal. And they are similar to the usual round.
A traffic light with additional sections has another cell with an arrow indicating the direction. That is, movement in a certain direction is allowed only when this signal is green. There is another situation: at the same time, an additional section and a red inhibit signal are lit in green. This means that it is allowed to start moving in the direction of the arrow only after vehicles passing the intersection from other directions are passed.
With an additional section, a traffic light (photo) can be seen below.
For better orientation and elimination of erroneous rotation, a black contour arrow is depicted on the main green lens. Even in the dark, when the switched off additional section at the traffic lights can simply not be noticed, drivers of vehicles will be aware of its presence.
SDA: reverse traffic light
In some sections of the highway at a certain time, huge congestion gathers. In order to accelerate traffic and not create traffic jams for many hours, lanes with reverse traffic are introduced on the roads, that is, changing direction depending on the traffic signal. Each lane has its own, according to traffic rules.
The traffic light has three sections. The first is a red X. In the second section there is a yellow arrow, in the third - green. Accordingly, a red signal - prohibits movement, green - allows, and yellow warns. In the second section, the direction of the arrow can change to the right or left and indicate where to rebuild after the enable signal lights up. When the reverse traffic light is off, lane traffic is prohibited.
Traffic lights for pedestrians and cyclists
This traffic management tool has only two colors - it is red and green. The silhouette of a pedestrian or cyclist is depicted on the lens. Green allows movement, red - forbids.
To organize the passage of cyclists, a traffic light with round signals is sometimes used, under which an information plate is installed. It has the following appearance - a white background, on which a bicycle is depicted in black.
To attract attention, as well as for blind pedestrians, traffic lights are equipped with a sound signal. It is supplied when a green light comes on, allowing the carriageway to cross.
Technical means for regulating the movement of trams
For motor vehicles that have a separate lane, a special traffic light can be installed. It has four round lenses of the same color - white-moon. These signals are located in the form of the letter "T".
Navigating through such a traffic light is quite simple. In it, three lenses are arranged in a row, and the fourth in the center below. Trams are allowed when two signals light up simultaneously. So, for travel, the lower lens should be directly turned on and the central one in the upper row. The combination of two signals informs the driver that traffic is directly permitted. When the lower lens and the right / left upper tram are on, you can turn in the corresponding direction. Driving is prohibited in all directions when the top three signals are lit at the traffic lights. This combination is a kind of tram stop requirement.
This traffic light must be used by drivers of fixed-route vehicles to which a certain lane is allocated. In our country, these are most often trams. However, other road users should take into account traffic lights with white-moon lenses. After all, with the simultaneous placing signal of different traffic lights, rail vehicles have priority.
Round white-moon flashing traffic lights are installed in front of level crossings. Included lenses allow you to travel through paths. Compared to the round traffic light we are accustomed to, this signal is similar to green, which allows movement.
If the lens does not blink white-lunar, but on the contrary - lights up red, then railroad crossing is allowed in the absence of rail transport in the visibility zone. In this situation, do not rush. Better to slowly assess the situation at the move. Remember that many railways have left-hand traffic.
Fines
The most common driver error is driving through a traffic signal prohibiting signal. For the first time for violation, your wallet will lose one thousand rubles.
If you drove on red for the second time, then the payment will be much higher: five thousand rubles to the state treasury or deprivation of a driver’s license for up to six months.
It is worth noting that a fine is issued not only for traveling to the red light, but also to yellow, as well as their combination.
A memo for novice drivers
Carefully assess the situation on the road. It is better to slow down a bit than to rush and to initiate a traffic accident.
Try not to lose sight of a single sign or markup. After all, the initially incorrectly occupied position on the roadway will not allow you to complete the planned maneuver.
Undoubtedly, each road user (whether a driver or a pedestrian) is obliged to know traffic rules and move in accordance with them.