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

and traffic noise levels. All its functions and parameters can be adjusted and parameter sets saved and copied via a USB cable, serial cable or Bluetooth using a laptop.

Protection against vandals

The Crossguide offers protection against vandalism due to its compact and sturdy design. The device’s technology is also designed for long-term use. You can even retroactively extend its functionality using an existing module slot without having to replace the devices when you require an extension. When retrofitting old systems, you can also make available additional functions such as visual feedback, acoustics and tactile enabling without having to open up the control unit. This is because these functions are set using software. As an option, devices can be equipped with a gold cap buffered clock. This allows for precise night-time sound reductions or even complete deactivation.

A large surface sensor or large surface push button is available for signal requesting. All top caps are interchangeable without having to make changes to the device. A red LED light provides visual feedback, which can also be generated internally without having to open up the signal control unit. You can choose between different flashing frequencies or continuous light. It is activated via the software. This allows for problem-free retrofitting of visual feedback on existing systems. Acoustic signal request acknowledgement is one of the special functions. The activation of the large surface push button and/or the vibration push button can be signaled by a short acoustic confirmation tone or, as outlined above, a voice announcement can be played.

Feeling good vibrations

Signals are requested using a push button on the underside of the device, integrated into the crossing symbol. A vibration module provides tactile acknowledgement. Acoustic acknowledgement can be adjusted to traffic noise levels. The volume can be adjusted between 30dB and 90dB. The sounds can be selected, loaded and activated using software (standard 880Hz, frequency range of 800-5,000Hz possible with polyphonic tones and .wav files). The fine-tuning of the boost is done in 1dB increments from around -20dB to +20dB. As per DIN 32981, the crossing signal and/or guide signal is transmitted via a remote loudspeaker. The speakers are mounted at a height of 2.1-2.5m (6.9-8.2ft). In addition to various special functions, the guide signal, pedestrian crossing signal, acoustic guide signal and vibration (among others) can be turned off or lowered at night.

Langmatz specializes in developing and manufacturing innovative products for traffic engineering, as well as in the power engineering and telecommunication sectors, and has more than 30 years of experience in this market. n

Left: A Crossguide located near a

school plays a recorded child’s voice to signal when it is safe to cross

Below: The push button is on the

underside of the Crossguide