The button at the crosswalk may not work the way you think. It has a hidden function

The development of technology affects the operation of everyday devices that we often forget about. An example is traffic lights at pedestrian crossings. It turns out that buttons in these places are no longer as necessary as they used to be. Modern solutions are responsible for pedestrian detection. Nevertheless, manual switches have not become obsolete and are still important.

Local governments are allocating increasing funds to improve road safety, providing road users with greater comfort. This is facilitated, among other things, by modern systems for automatic detection of pedestrians and cyclists.

The operation of such installations is based on the work of advanced sensors. Thanks to video, radar or thermal imaging technology, it is possible to recognize people approaching the crossing. Then the traffic light controller receives a signal to turn on the green light. We are used to the characteristic yellow buttons being responsible for this. Thanks to the new solutions, we do not have to use them. However, this does not mean that they will disappear from the road landscape. They remain useful, for example in the event of a detector failure.

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The Warsaw Municipal Road Authority emphasizes that such a "hidden" button is located at the bottom of the cassette. It is an audible and vibration signal for people with visual impairments. The vibration is activated by pressing the button located at the bottom of the push-button cassette.

Additionally, on its side wall there is a typhlographic plan of the pedestrian crossing, thanks to which visually impaired people can find out by touch, among other things, how long the crossing is and whether it is equipped with a refuge.

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For this group of pedestrians, there is also a tactile map on the push-button cassette. It provides information on the layout of the crossing zone, its length and the possible occurrence of "islands".

It is worth remembering how a pedestrian or cyclist can make it easier for the machines to detect. You should approach the edge of the sidewalk, maintaining a safe distance from the street. Detection should be confirmed by the lighting up of the "WAIT" sign on the button. The Rzeszów Municipal Road Authority emphasizes that the equipment needs a few seconds to correctly detect a participant in traffic . The system must reject false signals, for example from people leaving the crossing or passing by.

To be properly detected, you should not leave the area of ​​the passage you plan to cross, the detection range is limited to about one and a half to two meters. Importantly, the reading can be disturbed by masts and booms that cover approaching or approaching people.

Every year in Poland hundreds of pedestrians die. The uniformed services appeal that in order to avoid tragedies one must be aware that accidents pose a particular threat to pedestrians.

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Even advanced technologies will not replace common sense. When entering the roadway, you must be especially careful. You cannot use phones or other devices, or go directly under an oncoming vehicle. It is recommended to use reflective elements. Even when we have the right of way, we should not feel completely safe.