SAFETY | 197
Safety in words Innovative technology is enabling traffic lights to speak to pedestrians, helping them cross roads safely Words | Ines Rösch, Langmatz GmbH, Germany
Safety and smooth interactions in traffic are priorities for all road users. Playing a key role are signal requesting devices that enable pedestrians to request a green signal at traffic lights. Langmatz GmbH traffic light push buttons have acoustic and tactile signals (vibration) that allow pedestrians, especially those who are visually impaired, to cross roads safely, and have proved themselves in real-life traffic situations.
Speaking traffic light technology The term ‘speaking traffic lights’ has become shorthand in the market for this technology. One municipality opted for this Langmatz product only recently and installed it near a primary school.
When someone presses the button on the pedestrian crossing, a friendly child’s voice says, “Thank you. It’ll turn green soon.” According to city officials, the voice recording is meant to encourage children and adults in future to cross the road only when the green light shows. The Crossguide (EK 533) traffic light push button from the Langmatz portfolio is an innovative universal voltage device with proven properties that is used on traffic lights across Europe. What is special about the Crossguide’s technical development is that voice prompts and acoustic signals can be individually recorded and played. This high-end device even allows you to set the volume of the acoustic signals according to time
Above: Langmatz’s Crossguide traffic light push button
Annual Showcase 2018 | Intertraffic World
