Why are some traffic lights positioned horizontal and some are vertical?

Question

Just curious

Answer 1

it depends on the circumstances around the need of the lighting fixture. If it has low bars then horizontal lights may make it easier for taller trucks to pass under. Cost is an issue, the time in which the light was purchased may have cheaper horizontal lights than the vertical ones and the same goes the other way around. Maybe the style is what suited the light for the area around it, there may be possible zoning issues, or maybe it was a request from the people who run the area.

Answer 2

Horizontal Traffic Lights

Answer 3

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RE:
Why are some traffic lights positioned horizontal and some are vertical?
Just curious

Answer 4

Just random regional differences.

In San Francisco they still have the signals on posts (vertical) on the corner.

In the Southeast they are usually hung from cables suspended between poles. Often they are horizontal for this style of installation. I'm assuming it's so that the signal wont swing as much during hurricanes etc., preventing it from ripping loose. Plus, if it's horizontal, you can attach it at two points rather than one...that has to be stronger for high winds.

In the Southwest they are usually attached to a solid metal arm cantilevered over the intersection (vertical).

Vertical is the safer way to go...color blind people can get confused when they're horizontal.

Answer 5

Traffic signals used to have much more variety between states and regions. Over the past 3 decades there has been much more standardization by organizations such as AASHTO (American Association of State highway Transportation Officials) and publication of the MUTCD (Manual for Uniform Traffic Control Devices)

The new standard is vertical to eliminate any confusion for colorblind since position will also be uniform.

Answer 6

The principal electric activity light was created in 1912 by Lester Wire, an American policeman of Salt Lake City, Utah, who additionally utilized red-green lights.on 5 August 1914, the American Traffic Signal Company introduced a movement signal framework on the corner of East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. It had two colors, red and green, and a signal, taking into account the configuration of James Hoge, to give a cautioning to color changes. The configuration by James Hoge permitted police and flame stations to control the signs in the event of crisis. The initial four-way, three-shade movement light was made by cop William Potts in Detroit, Michigan in 1920. Ashville, Ohio cases to be the home of the most established working activity light in the United States, utilized at a convergence of open streets from 1932 to 1982 when it was moved to a neighborhood exhibition hall. For more information visit us at TopTrafficSafety .

Answer 7

it has to do with different regions states like texas,oklahoma,misisippi,alabama,louisiana,parts of arkansas and some southwestern states like arizona and new mexico do it horizontal i think it fits the style however texas and arizona have alot more money the rest of those states are poorer states on the east coast mid atlantic and pacific coast regions do vertical stoplights it also has has to do with wire and pole stoplights

Answer 8

weigh distrubution in some areas... they're different because each area must have a limited amount of weight distributed evenly so therefore some are horizantal so they sharte weight and vertical adds weight in one area. if weight was differencated then that would cause chaos and asphalt may/may not crack causing accidents and deaths

Answer 9

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Traffic light The traffic light, also known as traffic signal, stop light, traffic lamp, stop-and-go lights, robot or semaphore, is a signaling device positioned at a road intersection, pedestrian crossing, or other location. Its purpose is to indicate, using a series of colors (Red - Amber - Green) specific movement to drive, ride or walk - - each assigned the right-of-way at a given moment, using a universal color code (and a precise sequence, for those that are color blind). Introduction Traffic lights for vehicles or pedestrians normally have two main lights—a red light that means 'stop' and a green (or sometimes white for pedestrians) light that means 'go' (or, more correctly, 'proceed with caution'); the use of these colors are thought to originate from nautical right-of-way[citation needed]. Usually, the red light contains some orange in its hue, and the green light contains some blue, to provide some support for people with red-green color blindness. In most countries there is also a yellow (colloquial term) or amber(official term) light, which when on by itself and not flashing means stop if able to do so safely. In some systems, a flashing amber means that a motorist may go ahead with care if the road is clear, giving way to pedestrians and to other road vehicles that may have priority. A flashing red is treated as a regular stop sign. There may be additional lights (usually a green arrow or "filter") to authorize turns. In the U.S., a turn permitted by such a light is called a protected left or protected right. A left turn light preceding the opposing through movement is called a leading left turn because it leads the opposing through green light (likewise, a left turn arrow that follows the opposing through movement is known as a lagging left turn). In Canada, a turn that is authorized before the opposing traffic is called an advanced green and a green arrow at the end of the phase is called a delayed green. A leading left turn, advanced green, lagging left, or delayed green can apply either to only one direction, allowing both turning and through traffic while opposing traffic is stopped, or to both directions, allowing left turns from opposing directions while all through traffic is stopped. Traffic lights for special vehicles (such as buses or trams) may use other systems, such as vertical vs. horizontal bars of white light. In most countries, the sequence is red (stop), green (go), amber (prepare to stop). In the UK, New Zealand and Canada, amber officially means 'stop' (unless it would cause an accident to do so) but in practice, is treated as 'prepare to stop'. In the UK, Hong Kong, Macau, Pakistan, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Iceland and Israel, among others, the sequence includes red and amber together before green, which helps draw attention to the impending change to green, to allow drivers to prepare to move off. (In many of these jurisdictions, such as the UK, it is customary for drivers to select neutral and/or use the handbrake at red lights; the additional phase gives the driver time to select first gear or release the handbrake before the light turns green). The single flashing amber signal is used in the UK and Australia at Pelican crossings. History On 10 December 1868, the first traffic lights were installed outside the British Houses of Parliament in London, by the railway engineer J. P. Knight. They resembled railway signals of the time, with semaphore arms and red and green gas lamps for night use. The gas lantern was turned with a lever at its base so that the appropriate light faced traffic. Unfortunately, it exploded on 2 January 1869, injuring the policeman who was operating it. The modern electric traffic light is an American invention. As early as 1912 in Salt Lake City, Utah, policeman Lester Wire invented the first red-green electric traffic lights. On 5 August 1914, the American Traffic Signal Company installed a traffic signal system on the corner of 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. It had two colors, red and green, and a buzzer, based on the design of James Hoge, to provide a warning for color changes. The design by James Hoge (USPTO # 1251666 Sept. 22, 1913) allowed Police and Fire stations to control the signals in case of emergency. The first four-way, three-color traffic light was created by police officer William Potts in Detroit in 1920. In 1923, Garrett Morgan patented a traffic signal device, although it was not a precursor of the modern traffic light. The first interconnected traffic signal system was installed in Salt Lake City in 1917, with six connected intersections controlled simultaneously from a manual switch. Automatic control of interconnected traffic lights was introduced March 1922 in Houston, Texas. The first automatic experimental traffic lights in England were deployed in Wolverhampton in 1927. Ampelmännchen pedestrian traffic signals have come to be seen as a nostalgic sign for the former German Democratic Republic.