School crossing lights

I don't know if the eastern states have the same 40km/h speed limit around schools in the morning and afternoon school times as we do here in the west but this worthwhile reduction in the speed limit during these times does not work well. When the 40km/h speed limits are in force, drivers just don't remember and do their usual speed past the schools. The police catch lots of drivers but this only makes money and does not significantly lower the speed of drivers.

Many people have suggested putting flashing lights on the 40km/h signs and then drivers cannot help notice and slow down. Problem is it would cost too much and be difficult to do.

Well us technically-minded know a lot more about how to solve this problem than the police and politicians and here is my idea.

I made up a flashing LED light with 18 ultra-bright LEDs powered by four NiMH AA cells. The flashing circuit was a 555 driving a switching transistor. The results are excellent, with the flashing LEDs visible from a considerable distance even in sunlight. My unit draws under 500mA and flashes for hours on one charge with 2Ah batteries.

In the west, we have traffic wardens that attend the school crossings in the morning and afternoons. The wardens would have the flashing lights and place them on the 40km/h signs.

Each night the traffic wardens would take the units home and recharge the AA cells.

I have written to our local Premier and Police Minister but perhaps SILICON CHIP could get behind the idea. What do you think?

Will McGhie,
Perth, WA.

Comment: we think it is a great idea. However, they would better integrated with the speed signs and be solar-powered. They should also be remote-switched by the school staff so that they would operate even when no traffic wardens are present – mostly the case in the eastern states. The schools could switch the lights on at the appointed times and thereby also avoid having drivers needing to slow down when no students are present on what is nominally a school day.

But we have little hope that the relevant state governments will actually run with the idea. It is too easy for them to do nothing and rake in the fines.

By the way, in our experience the police in each state have very good technical staff who are right up to date with technical developments.