Do you feel as though living in this generation that wants things instantly – from instant noodles to instant search results and even immediate changes, has made life a whole lot more stressful? Take a look at any red light and you will find some motorists fidgeting anxiously, as though the traffic light should have been permanently green in whichever direction he is headed. Pedestrians too, are not free from this accusation, and there are times when the “red man” is ignored – as long as there are no cars or vehicles in sight, the road is game for crossing. Such complacency could lead to tragic accidents, which is why a “Dancing Traffic Light” was developed as an experiment by car manufacturer Smart.
The Dancing Traffic Light does not mean that the entire traffic light pole would suddenly uproot itself like an Ent and start cavorting, but rather, it is the “red man” inside that will be a whole lot more animated. The whole idea behind this is to capture the attention of those who are about to cross the road as they see the red man perform a dance, helping save lives in the process by reducing the risk of impulsive and hurried pedestrians.
Of course, this is a stop-gap measure at best, and after a whole, pedestrians will see the dancing red man as “normal”, and return to their old habits. Still, it is a nice distraction and a possible temporary solution that is worth exploring.
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