# Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 28, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650 "2009-12-28T14:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anonymity](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/anonymity/32/7215_2.png) [@Anonymity](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Anonymity)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/1 "2009-12-28T14:09:55Z")
> **[Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow...](https://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/16/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-can/)** > > Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country... > by **[Michael Harley](http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/michael-harley/)** ([**RSS feed**](http://www.autoblog.com/bloggers/michael-harley/rss.xml)) on Dec 16th 2009 at 5:31PM > Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures. > “I’ve never had to put up with this in the past,” said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. “The police officer told me the new lights weren’t melting the snow. How is that safe?” It obviously isn’t. > Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. “If there’s any question, you err on the side of caution,” says Hansen. wow, i hope buffalo learns from this… ---
**Author:** ![PureXTC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purextc/32/5223_2.png) [@PureXTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PureXTC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/2 "2009-12-28T14:13:21Z")
You would think, well payed engineers would think of this. ---
**Author:** ![AngryHero](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/angryhero/32/7495_2.png) [@AngryHero](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AngryHero)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/3 "2009-12-28T14:50:42Z")
> [@PureXTC](#): > > You would think, well payed engineers would think of this. You wouldnt believe the stuff engineers miss.Sometimes it just makes me wonder ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/4 "2009-12-28T14:57:23Z")
You’d imagine this is the red light producer’s problem. Install heating elements that automatically get triggered on under 40 degrees? What a difficult problem to solve! ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/5 "2009-12-28T14:58:16Z")
When I saw this last week I laughed. I knew this years ago when I bought my first led flood light. Public paid engineers obviously don’t work for private companies for a reason. lol ---
**Author:** ![deebo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/deebo/32/5218_2.png) [@deebo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/deebo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/6 "2009-12-28T15:00:27Z")
What is on those other 4 lights? wtf you need a 5 signal one for? like this… :wtf: ![http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll148/95LS1t/traffic-light-big.jpg](http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll148/95LS1t/traffic-light-big.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![PureXTC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purextc/32/5223_2.png) [@PureXTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PureXTC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/7 "2009-12-28T15:00:34Z")
Meh, I’ve seen far worse from the engineers at GM plant. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/8 "2009-12-28T15:17:23Z")
> [@PureXTC](#): > > Meh, I’ve seen far worse from the engineers at GM plant. I think Union guys are almost if not worse then public. lol ---
**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/9 "2009-12-28T15:24:49Z")
> [@ultradriver10000](#): > > You’d imagine this is the red light producer’s problem. Install heating elements that automatically get triggered on under 40 degrees? What a difficult problem to solve! Heating elements probably cost more then the electicity savings the lights actually had in the first place… ---
**Author:** ![Hass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/51bf81/32.png) [@Hass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hass)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/10 "2009-12-28T15:30:45Z")
> [@deebo](#): > > What is on those other 4 lights? wtf you need a 5 signal one for? lol, i like that light. it’s probably a turning signal. as well. one for a green arrow, and one for a yellow arrow. but if it’s LED, i would imagine it would all be done with three. or even one o.O ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/11 "2009-12-28T15:47:52Z")
> [@Hass](#): > > lol, i like that light. > > it’s probably a turning signal. as well. > one for a green arrow, and one for a yellow arrow. > but if it’s LED, i would imagine it would all be done with three. > or even one o.O having separate signals is useful for those that are color blind. ---
**Author:** ![PureXTC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purextc/32/5223_2.png) [@PureXTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PureXTC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/12 "2009-12-28T15:48:07Z")
> [@ultradriver10000](#): > > I think Union guys are almost if not worse then public. lol Engineers arent union lol. Only the lowly workers are ---
**Author:** ![vq30de](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9dc877/32.png) [@vq30de](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vq30de)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/13 "2009-12-28T15:55:02Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > Public paid engineers obviously don’t work for private companies for a reason. lol public engineers wouldn’t design that, private companies design/construct shit like that. And fwiw I work in a public office and I guarantee our engineers are as good if not better than the private sector… There is a tremendous amount of talent in my office. ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/14 "2009-12-28T16:20:24Z")
> [@ultradriver10000](#): > > You’d imagine this is the red light producer’s problem. Install heating elements that automatically get triggered on under 40 degrees? What a difficult problem to solve! The problem being that I think a lot of the led bulbs were simply retrofitted into existing housings. Even if they were new housing you now have to take them all apart and add a complicated system of heaters. Like Viper said… It would have been cheaper to just stick with the old bulbs. ---
**Author:** ![Avatar](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/avatar/32/5076_2.png) [@Avatar](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Avatar)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/15 "2009-12-28T17:23:35Z")
Looks to me like more wasted tax dollars. ---
**Author:** ![burnt\_toast](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/burnt_toast/32/7518_2.png) [@burnt\_toast](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/burnt_toast)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 5:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/16 "2009-12-28T17:27:55Z")
> City to create 100 new jobs to sweep off snow-resistant traffic lights this winter… that’d be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/17 "2009-12-28T18:13:05Z")
No offense but, you guys have no clue abouts costs. Very simple heaters running only when cold out would be waaaay cheaper than what it takes to get a crew(How many state workers does it take to change a light bulb?) out in traffic to change bulbs.(LEDs last super long.) ---
**Author:** ![PureXTC](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/purextc/32/5223_2.png) [@PureXTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PureXTC)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/18 "2009-12-28T18:16:01Z")
> [@Blue Eyed Devil](#): > > (How many state workers does it take to change a light bulb?) 1. 2 to operate ladder. 1 to change bulb. 2 to hold stop/slow signs. 1 supervisor to sit in his truck and watch. 1 to operate the electricity to the pole. 2 to start cooking dinner in the “shop” ---
**Author:** ![ubengineering](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ubengineering/32/5171_2.png) [@ubengineering](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ubengineering)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/19 "2009-12-28T18:30:47Z")
HA^^ and they get paid a LOT, why do we go to school again? ---
**Author:** ![BigEd88](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/biged88/32/5064_2.png) [@BigEd88](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BigEd88)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650/20 "2009-12-28T23:10:50Z")
so your not out there on a 9 degree day changing a bulb? [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/unintended-consequence-of-technology-new-led-traffic-lights-cant-melt-snow/77650.md?page=2)