These traffic lights seem trivial, however, they are indeed prohibited by law! We explain to you.
Several arrangements are available to communities to make speed motorists slow down and enforce the highway code. But often, like the backs of illegal donkeys, which will not be for a long time, institutions use Unauthorized deviceslike some very special tricolor traffic lights …
“Sanction” traffic lights have been prohibited
You may have already met this kind of signaling. It is a tricolor fire, which, in its appearance, looks classic. However, he goes hand in hand with A detection system located a little upstream. The latter measures the speed of vehicles. If the latter roll beyond the authorized speed limit, the fire, usually green, then goes red. They are called “sanctions” fires.
However, since the decree of April 9, 2021 relating to the modification of road signaling, Lighting lights at speed can no longer be of the sanction type. Thus, according to the decree “The R22V signal must operate according to the following principle: in the absence of vehicle the signal is red at rest. The transition to green is enslaved to the detection of vehicles approaching (presence detection or speed measurement). The colors then take place cyclically in the following order: Fixed-Rouge-Vert-Vert Jaune. When no vehicle is detected, the signal returns to red rest “.
Even if they can prove to be practical (especially to slow down speed motorists), these tricolor lights are therefore no longer in line with the legal framework. And yet, Some communities still use it …
The rules of a “reward” traffic light
Conversely, there are “rewards” fires, which work in a completely opposite way. Red, It goes to green if the motorist rides at the right speed. This device cannot take place everywhere. Its installation meets clear conditions. It can only be present in agglomeration, on axes at 30 km/h as at 50 km/h. It cannot also be placed near a pedestrian crossing, a crossroads or near an agglomeration entrance sign.
If it limits the speed of cars in the city, these traffic lights called “awards” requires a substantial financial effort for communities. According to the House of Road Safety of Doubs, it is necessary to count Between € 20,000 and € 40,000 to install a speed enslave at speed. The system also requires compulsory annual verification. So count € 1,000 in intervention from one more technician each year.
In addition, according to the House of Road Safety of Doubs, a system of “traditional” traffic lights would have roughly the same effects. Motorists slow down because of the presence of a fire, not because it “rewards”. Especially since unlike a classic fire, drivers respect these “rewards” fires less. 10 % of them toast them, Against 1.6 % on average for conventional fires.
