Blue lights

[Bryant]

Does anyone know what the blue lights on top of the traffic signals at the intersection of 441 and 42 are for? Just noticed them a few nights ago. Thanks.[/B]

[Talk Host]

The blue lights are there as a visual sign to police officers on side roads when the traffic signal on crossing roads is "red." From their slidelong vantage point, even at a long distance, they can see that somebody on a cross road has driven through a red traffic signal. They cannot see the red light because it is facing the two crossways directions, but they can see the blue light. If they see you drive under a blue light, they know you have committed a traffic infraction.

As an added bonus to you, the blue light serve to help you sort out the traffic signals from the thousands of other red colored lights that adorn the sides of the roads and highways.

[DENNIS G]

They are also used by emergency vehicles to change the signals when they are approaching the intersection with the use of radio transmitters.

[SABRMnLgs]

There are many places and other towns and cities that have these also. The ones I'm most familiar with are in Ocala. I drive there a lot and they are all over the place.

[Just Susan]

I always believed that the blue lights were connected in some way to oncoming Emergency Vehicles. But I did a little research and came up with a couple answers...

Answer #1
quote from ask.com
Those blue LED's are signal markers. Basically, whenever an emergency vehicle needs to run a red light or cross over some railroad tracks, they initiate a signal beacon on their vehicle (example being the strobe light on the front center of a fire engine). This beacon hits a receiver on the traffic light, and starts a process to change the light from red to green. The blue LED is a way for the emergency personnel to tell whether or not the traffic light is going to change, or has already changed. If the blue light is on, the light is red, if it is out then the light is green. If it is blinking then it is going to change from red to green really quick! The funny thing about this is that most city buses have the same transmitter as the cops or emergency vehicles, that way they can make sure to stay on their time schedule.

Answer #2
quote from Solutions for LED Lights.com
Blue lights above traffic signals on state roads verify traffic violations
By Carolyn on June 29, 2008 2:10 PM | Permalink

According to the Federal Highway Administration, in 2000 there were 106,000 crashes from running RED LIGHTS, with 89,000 injuries and 1,036 deaths.

Blue lights above traffic signals are called "tattletale lights" or "red light confirmation lights." Whenever the traffic signal is red, the blue light is on.

Police previously had to testify that a vehicle was in an intersection when it ran a red light.

Now, officers only have to see the blue light to know the vehicle ran the red signal.

Running a red light in Florida can bring a fine of $188.50.

Violators also face adding three or four points to their driving record, unless they complete a state-approved driver-safety course.

The Orlando Sentinel confirms the second answer to be true. So I guess I learned something too. :)

[captain1202]

Well, some are white and on the bottom. As I understand it they are to assist color blind drivers to indicate for sure that the red light was illuminated as red is the most frequent problem with color blindness I'm told. The indicator ights around TV don't look like the types of light indicators I've had experiences with as an emergency vehicle driver. I don't notice them anywhere else in the area except TV. Higher incidence of color blindness here maybe?

[downeaster]

Well, some are white and on the bottom. As I understand it they are to assist color blind drivers to indicate for sure that the red light was illuminated as red is the most frequent problem with color blindness I'm told. The indicator lights around TV don't look like the types of light indicators I've had experiences with as an emergency vehicle driver. I don't notice them anywhere else in the area except TV. Higher incidence of color blindness here maybe?

Color blind drivers know the red light is always the top light and green the bottom. If horizontal it is left and right. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, they know which is which.
It is nice to hear the various answers and they all seem to add up to "we don't have to concern ourselves with it unless we drive an emergency vehicle".