What are the types of traffic lights?

It is difficult for a modern person to imagine traffic that is not regulated by a traffic light. This device helps to organize the movement of vehicles and pedestrians. There is a wide classification depending on what purpose the traffic light performs. The types and types of devices also differ in design, form of regulation and direction of movement.

Traffic light, its functions

This means of organizing the movement is an optical device that transmits color signals. There is a separate traffic light for all common vehicles. The types and types of devices are a wide system that includes a wide variety of designs. An ordinary citizen most often meets a three-color traffic light, however, knowledge of other forms and designs will help to avoid unforeseen situations and remain safe on the road. Signal devices perform the following functions:

• reduced risk of accidents;
• improving road quality;
• maintaining the environment (contributes to a more uniform course of cars, resulting in reduced atmospheric emissions).

Classification

Types of traffic lights relative to the destination for certain vehicles:

• road-street;
• railway;
• river.

In this case, each view is divided into types that depend on the purpose, design and nature of the movement.

Rail

Such signaling devices are designed to control the movement of trains and the speed of descent from the sorting slide. There are 13 types of traffic lights on the railway:

• route (between station areas);
• input (from the stage to the station);
• weekend (from the station to the stage);
• checkpoints (between intersposts);
• barrage (stop);
• cover (crossing paths);
• repeat (indications of the main traffic light with poor visibility);
• warning (in front of the main traffic light);
• maneuverable;
• locomotive;
• hills;
• technological (permission to harvest or supply composition);
• entry or exit (travel to the production room).

Used devices with red, yellow, green, white and blue lights. Different types of traffic lights for the purpose of railway transport can be combined in one common design.

The meaning of the colors can be studied in the following table.

River transport

Devices of this kind regulate movement with the help of two colors - green and red or only orange. In the latter case, the structure is installed in places where you cannot anchor.

Two-color traffic lights exist to organize passage through locks - structures through which ships move from one water body to another, with a different level. There are two types of river signaling device - distant and near.

Road and pedestrian

There is a separate classification for drivers of vehicles and road users. Types of traffic lights and their names are as follows:

• automobile;
• for block vehicles;
• walking;
• for cyclists.

In addition, the devices are divided into types regarding their purpose and design. All of them are similar to each other, but they have some features.

Automotive

The most common type of traffic light is a device with three color signals:

• green - travel is allowed;
• yellow (orange) - braking at low speed;
• red - stop.

At the same time, at each traffic light the lights are placed in a strict order. If the lamps are arranged vertically, the red color is at the top, and if horizontal - to the left. In some cases, yellow is skipped before the green light comes on.

Sometimes the lamps in the traffic lights do not light permanently, but blink. If this happens to green, drivers have the opportunity to stop on time. There are certain types of traffic lights for cars. Their classification is based on the structure of the mechanism, the nature of the signal, the purpose and direction of movement.

Types of traffic light regulation

Some devices are constantly working on the installed system, while others can change the interval for signaling. On this basis, these types of traffic lights are distinguished:

• continuous regulation;
• adaptive regulation.

In the first case, the device operates in a permanent mode, regardless of the day of the week, traffic and time of day. In large cities, such structures are often superseded by adaptive control traffic lights. The duration of the signaling periods varies so as to better organize traffic. The mode of operation of the traffic light is different at rush hour and during working / night time. This mechanism helps to avoid heavy traffic and traffic jams.

Structure

The following types of traffic lights are distinguished by design:

• LED;
• on halogen or incandescent lamps.

Devices of the first type appeared not so long ago and have a number of undeniable advantages. They work on the basis of light blocks (matrix of LEDs) that create a complete picture. Such designs are distinguished by bright color and reliability. If the device breaks due to a burnout of the incandescent lamp, then the LED mechanisms continue to work. In addition, less electricity is needed for their operation. At low temperatures, such mechanisms require additional heating.

Direction Classification

Traffic lights are also distinguished depending on which direction traffic is allowed. The most familiar for us is a device for all possible directions. A traffic light works with three colors: red, yellow and green.

A device for moving in one direction also includes these lights with a slight nuance. Green color consists of several lamps with arrows indicating the side on which the passage is allowed. This traffic light is also used in isolated traffic.

Reversing device

These mechanisms should control the lanes when moving vehicles on the roadway. In such traffic lights, three lights are used - red, yellow and green (from left to right). The first is in the form of the letter X, which means a ban on travel on this lane. Green looks like an arrow pointing down, and allows further movement. The yellow color is in the center, it warns of a change in the lane mode and indicates the side you want to go to.

On the bridges

Often at crossings you can find signaling devices consisting of three lights located horizontally. They are used in cases where the passage of cars passes through a drawbridge. Most often, two such traffic lights are installed at one crossing on the sides of the sign. When breeding the bridge, a signal is issued that prohibits the further movement of the car.

In tunnels

In such cases, at the entrance there can be different types of traffic lights. Most often, this is an ordinary three- or two-color device, indicating whether it is possible to continue moving. Usually, the color is green. For safe passage through the tunnel, it is important to maintain uniform speed and the interval between cars. Therefore, at the entrance, you can often see the vehicle speed sensor and the recommended speed. In addition, these traffic lights are installed inside the tunnel, if it has a long length.

At the enterprises

In large areas, where cars or trucks with goods often pass, two-color traffic lights are installed at the entrance. They use only two colors: red and green (prohibition or permission to further movement).

The intersection of railway crossings and tram tracks

Above it was written about the traffic lights of Russian Railways. The types of these devices are discussed in detail, but they relate exclusively to trains. Also, a signaling mechanism for cars is installed near the railway tracks. It can be seen in places where the road intersects with rails.

Such traffic lights consist of two colors: red and white. The first unconditionally prohibits the movement of cars through the crossing. White color means the ability to cross paths, but drivers must first make sure that the train is not approaching them. Next to the traffic light is usually the sign "STOP".

A device with a flashing red lamp works similarly. It is installed near runways, at the intersection of tram tracks, etc.

For pedestrians

Most often, such traffic lights consist of two colors: green and red. In the CIS countries, such devices depict a standing and walking person. Such traffic lights are installed near pedestrian crossings. Most of them switch automatically, but there are signaling devices that work for a certain period after pressing a button. Some traffic lights emit a sound signal that helps people with disabilities to navigate.

However, special signaling devices for pedestrians are not installed in all places, and you have to navigate by devices designed for cars. Therefore, even people who do not know how to drive, you need to know what types of traffic lights exist.

Tram warning device

The device is designed exclusively for this type of public transport. The traffic light uses two colors - red and green, which, respectively, can prohibit or allow further movement. Such devices are installed on the ups and downs, in front of the arrows or at the entrance to the tram depot.

Since transport moves along a separate path, drivers need to know if the road ahead is clear. This task is performed by the signaling device for trams.

For route vehicles

Types of traffic lights include a separate category for public transport. This signaling device has a specific mechanism of operation and is used only by tram, bus or trolley bus drivers. The traffic light consists of four white lights located in the form of the letter T (3 - horizontally and one - below, under the middle). The top three signals indicate the direction of public transport (left, right and right). If one of these lights illuminates at the same time as the lower one, the driver can drive in the indicated direction.

For bicycles

Often, athletes do not know what types of traffic lights there are that you should pay attention to when riding a bicycle. Nevertheless, such devices are used in large cities, especially in the presence of special tracks. It is quite simple to find such a traffic light among the rest - a corresponding plate hangs on it or a cyclist is depicted. In this case, two- and three-color devices are used.

In motorsport

In this case, at the start, exit or at marshal posts traffic lights with red, green and sometimes yellow lights are installed. At the exit from the pit lane, the well-known prohibitory and permissive colors are used, as well as flashing blue, which means the approach of another car.

At the start, the lights have a different meaning:

• red - preparation for the start;
• red go out - start from a place;
• green - start from the move.

Above, we examined in detail the types of traffic lights and their purpose.