|
Road rage is defined as “a fit of violent anger by the driver of an automobile, especially one directed toward and endangering other motorists or pedestrians.” Many of us have probably experienced a fit of road rage at some point or another during our driving careers. From being cut off in traffic to being stuck behind someone who doesn’t realize the light has turned green, it is indeed a rare day when no one feels some sort of anger behind the wheel. But designer Damjan Stankovic is looking to change that with his new invention: the Eko Traffic Light.
The Eko Traffic Light
Designer Damjan Stankovic set out to create a new traffic control device that would help to curb road rage at crowded intersections and other areas where traffic lights are a common sight. At the same time, he was aiming to make such crowded areas safer for drivers and pedestrians alike, as well as potentially helping the environment by giving drivers the option to turn off their engine at an extra-long red light. After taking all those concerns into account, he came up with a new stoplight or traffic control device that helps to alert pedestrians of how long they have to cross the street and drivers of how long they have to sit at the stoplight. The Eko Traffic Light doesn’t use a traditional timer where drivers and pedestrians can see a countdown clock, but rather it uses a series of small counters that turn from red to black in a clockwise motion. The series of small counters turn off one by one and when the last one turns off, the green light will then activate, alerting drivers that they can go. It seems like a rather simple innovation, but for those fed up with the traditional stoplight, it could be a needed refresher.
Coming To A Stoplight Near You
The beauty of the Eko Traffic Light is that it doesn’t require existing traffic lights to be taken down and replaced, which can be quite costly, but rather it comes in the form of a large red light that can be installed right on top of an existing red light. Many are impressed with the design, including those at Red Dot, who awarded Stankovic’s prototype the Red Dot design award. Nevertheless, it may be a while before you see the light at an intersection near you, as Stankovic says that it still needs to be tweaked a bit. However, he says that he has been in contact with various manufacturers who seem rather interested in the prototype. Currently, there are different variations by different manufacturers of the Eko Traffic Light in use in Ukraine, Brazil and Thailand.
Concerns
The trouble with inventing something new and improved is the fact that there are always a select few out there who aim to spoil the improvement for everyone. In the case of the Eko Traffic Light, many critics fear that it has the potential to turn our roads into a drag strip. Of course, drag racing on public roads is illegal no matter where you go, but it doesn’t stop everyone from endangering the lives of other motorists. The advantage of a traditional traffic light is that it deters drag racing, at least to a degree, because it simply changes colors without its timing mechanism being exposed to the driver, but the Eko Traffic Light does expose its timing mechanism to every driver on the road. If you have ever been to a drag strip, you have probably noticed “the tree” of lights that alert the participants of when to take off down the track. To a degree, this new innovation has the potential to be used like “the tree” at a drag strip.
Do The Benefits Outweigh The Risks?
While a vast majority of drivers would herald the appearance of such a device and continue to drive in a safe manner, there are always a select few that would take advantage of it and endanger the lives of those on and near the road. What do you think? Would you like to see such a device in your town or do you think that it would encourage more instances of street racing?
Photo:
http://relogik.com/eko
|
|
|
|
