New traffic lights

It seems like just about everywhere in Brevard County and Indian River County (perhaps the rest of Florida too) old traffic lights are being replaced by a new breed of presumably hurricane resistant green monster poles reaching out over the road where lights were once hanging on cables to sway wildly in a good wind.

I am just guessing about the reason but I know that when strong hurricanes hit many traffic lights get blown away or just end up dangling where they aren't supposed to be.

Even the old style mounted on smaller poles are being replaced with the monster poles

I've actually been seeing them in Florida for a number of years with lights hanging perpendicular to the poles on the newer roadways

But the new poles have lights mounted parallel to the poles which will further prevent wind from affecting the lights.

I also noticed they all have cameras conveniently mounted on them as well, hmmm, wonder what they are for.



I also wonder what happens when a car hits one of the poles, are they break-away like the old ones, and if so what about the guy under the falling pole?

Looking at the size of the poles, I imagine it will be more like hitting a concrete abutment than a break-away pole.



More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Listen to Pete Harris while you surf.

See other photos at donssite.com, my photo blog or see Truck photos, optical illusions or web animations

Heading north to take care of stuff.

Farewell Sebastian Florida, hope to be back very soon.



Got to take care of business in Burlington Ontario then I'll be back.



While traveling through Virginia, I heard a really disturbing bit of news then saw evidence of what I heard.


Due to budget restraints Virginia is CLOSING 14 of it's 42 REST AREAS and I've heard similar stories in other states.


What about DRIVER FATIGUE, TUNNEL VISION, HIGHWAY HYPNOSIS, SAFETY BREAKS ? ? ?


Just how many deaths does it cost to keep a rest area open?



One sleepy driver killed per year crashing into the ditch because he was too tired to make the next exit,


Ten dozy drivers per year crossing the median crashing head-on into unsuspecting oncoming traffic because they didn't stop 196 miles ago at the last rest area,


One hundred drivers killed per year because they fell asleep behind the wheel and left the road striking whatever or whoever was in their path only because they couldn't find a reasonably safe place to pull off the Interstate and rest for a little while ? ? ?


I say keep them open and add more for safety's sake . . . and the occasional pee.

Let Corporate America fund them with advertising revenue and concessions. I'm not talking about full blown service plazas just small food and beverage concessions and advertising opportunities to support maintenance of the rest area.

How much can it cost to cut the grass, have a couple of lights on, supply water and clean toilets?

I'm just thinkin' . . . . . . .


More on road safety at http://www.ezee.ca
Forklift Safety at liftright.net
Listen to Pete Harris while you surf.

See other photos at donssite.com, my photo blog or see Truck photos, optical illusions or web animations