Transportation and Vehicle Safety: Traffic lights in UK, plastic slats, susan terry

Question
Hi Terry
Please don't worry if you can't help as this seems a really difficult question. For several years traffic light manufacturers have been adding black plastic slats to the front of the green bulb of traffic lights, which obscures your view of the colour & in many cases causing you to slow right down to check if they are working properly. Often, a bulb will blow leaving you to guess who has the right of way, so obviously it pays to be cautious when no colour is clearly visible. I just wondered if you could tell me why they do this, as it is very annoying, distracting & dangerous. Imagine the geezer behind you can see the green light is on & you are not sure ( due to low sunlight maybe)& you slow down & he rams you up the behind! It has been my gripe since they started doing this. If a light is on, surely it is important for all drivers & pedestrians to see it?! Makes me feel like climbing a ladder & removing the damn things!! Hope you can help & thanks for reading my question.

Answer
Hi Susan. And welcome !

I am sorry to say that I have no independent knowlege in this specific area. I could hazard a guess however....

The slats appear to have few benefits, except that they seem to prevent sunlight from washing the color out, only when you are directly in front of it. If you are at any angle it appears they become a real safety problem and have no real value at all.

This is just my personal opinion only and not supported by any factual basis.

Sorry to not be more helpful in this area Susan.

Terry