Why are some pedestrian traffic lights covered in shades in London?

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I recently visited London and noticed some pedestrian traffic lights are covered weirdly so they're only visible from some angles.



traffic lights in trafalgar square



Looking it up in a search here didn't bring up any results.



Does anyone know why they're going through the trouble to do this?






uk london







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  • So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
    – Weather Vane
    14 mins ago

















up vote
1
down vote

favorite












I recently visited London and noticed some pedestrian traffic lights are covered weirdly so they're only visible from some angles.



traffic lights in trafalgar square



Looking it up in a search here didn't bring up any results.



Does anyone know why they're going through the trouble to do this?






uk london







share|improve this question





















  • So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
    – Weather Vane
    14 mins ago













up vote
1
down vote

favorite









up vote
1
down vote

favorite











I recently visited London and noticed some pedestrian traffic lights are covered weirdly so they're only visible from some angles.



traffic lights in trafalgar square



Looking it up in a search here didn't bring up any results.



Does anyone know why they're going through the trouble to do this?






uk london







share|improve this question













I recently visited London and noticed some pedestrian traffic lights are covered weirdly so they're only visible from some angles.



traffic lights in trafalgar square



Looking it up in a search here didn't bring up any results.



Does anyone know why they're going through the trouble to do this?






uk london




uk london






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 1 hour ago









Benjamin Gruenbaum

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825615











  • So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
    – Weather Vane
    14 mins ago

















  • So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
    – Weather Vane
    14 mins ago
















So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
– Weather Vane
14 mins ago





So that it cannot be misunderstood when looked at from another place, where it does not apply.
– Weather Vane
14 mins ago











1 Answer
1






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3
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You are most likely to find the green light with shades on the far side of a pedestrian crossing with a safety island, as illustrated below (the o are the traffic lights):



 Kerb
____-----o____ <- Shaded light
 . . >>> Traffic goes this way
 . .
____=====o____ The safety island
 =====o
 . . <<< Traffic goes this way
 . .
____-----o____ <- Shaded light
 Kerb


Due to road layout and light configurations, sometimes it is only safe to cross half of the road (up to the safety island). The shades ensure that you do not mistake the green light on the island as the signal to cross the entire road - you can only be sure that it is a green light (but not a broken light, which the general highway code on crossing a uncontrolled crossing kicks in) once you are on the island.



Similar shades are installed on traffic lights for vehicles to reduce the risk of drivers running into an intersection thinking it is a green, when the light meant for the driver is showing red.



I do not have a written source to back up what I said above, though I was told this by my driving instructor when I learnt to drive in London a few years ago.






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    You are most likely to find the green light with shades on the far side of a pedestrian crossing with a safety island, as illustrated below (the o are the traffic lights):



     Kerb
    ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
     . . >>> Traffic goes this way
     . .
    ____=====o____ The safety island
     =====o
     . . <<< Traffic goes this way
     . .
    ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
     Kerb


    Due to road layout and light configurations, sometimes it is only safe to cross half of the road (up to the safety island). The shades ensure that you do not mistake the green light on the island as the signal to cross the entire road - you can only be sure that it is a green light (but not a broken light, which the general highway code on crossing a uncontrolled crossing kicks in) once you are on the island.



    Similar shades are installed on traffic lights for vehicles to reduce the risk of drivers running into an intersection thinking it is a green, when the light meant for the driver is showing red.



    I do not have a written source to back up what I said above, though I was told this by my driving instructor when I learnt to drive in London a few years ago.






    share|improve this answer


























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      You are most likely to find the green light with shades on the far side of a pedestrian crossing with a safety island, as illustrated below (the o are the traffic lights):



       Kerb
      ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
       . . >>> Traffic goes this way
       . .
      ____=====o____ The safety island
       =====o
       . . <<< Traffic goes this way
       . .
      ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
       Kerb


      Due to road layout and light configurations, sometimes it is only safe to cross half of the road (up to the safety island). The shades ensure that you do not mistake the green light on the island as the signal to cross the entire road - you can only be sure that it is a green light (but not a broken light, which the general highway code on crossing a uncontrolled crossing kicks in) once you are on the island.



      Similar shades are installed on traffic lights for vehicles to reduce the risk of drivers running into an intersection thinking it is a green, when the light meant for the driver is showing red.



      I do not have a written source to back up what I said above, though I was told this by my driving instructor when I learnt to drive in London a few years ago.






      share|improve this answer
























        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        You are most likely to find the green light with shades on the far side of a pedestrian crossing with a safety island, as illustrated below (the o are the traffic lights):



         Kerb
        ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
         . . >>> Traffic goes this way
         . .
        ____=====o____ The safety island
         =====o
         . . <<< Traffic goes this way
         . .
        ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
         Kerb


        Due to road layout and light configurations, sometimes it is only safe to cross half of the road (up to the safety island). The shades ensure that you do not mistake the green light on the island as the signal to cross the entire road - you can only be sure that it is a green light (but not a broken light, which the general highway code on crossing a uncontrolled crossing kicks in) once you are on the island.



        Similar shades are installed on traffic lights for vehicles to reduce the risk of drivers running into an intersection thinking it is a green, when the light meant for the driver is showing red.



        I do not have a written source to back up what I said above, though I was told this by my driving instructor when I learnt to drive in London a few years ago.






        share|improve this answer














        You are most likely to find the green light with shades on the far side of a pedestrian crossing with a safety island, as illustrated below (the o are the traffic lights):



         Kerb
        ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
         . . >>> Traffic goes this way
         . .
        ____=====o____ The safety island
         =====o
         . . <<< Traffic goes this way
         . .
        ____-----o____ <- Shaded light
         Kerb


        Due to road layout and light configurations, sometimes it is only safe to cross half of the road (up to the safety island). The shades ensure that you do not mistake the green light on the island as the signal to cross the entire road - you can only be sure that it is a green light (but not a broken light, which the general highway code on crossing a uncontrolled crossing kicks in) once you are on the island.



        Similar shades are installed on traffic lights for vehicles to reduce the risk of drivers running into an intersection thinking it is a green, when the light meant for the driver is showing red.



        I do not have a written source to back up what I said above, though I was told this by my driving instructor when I learnt to drive in London a few years ago.







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 5 mins ago

























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        B.Liu

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