AARoads Forum

National Boards => General Highway Talk => Traffic Control => Topic started by: Dustin DeWinn on January 21, 2017, 12:46:29 AM

Title: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: Dustin DeWinn on January 21, 2017, 12:46:29 AM
I know about rat-lights, but I was wondering if anyone knew if blue light phones meet some kind of federal or DOT standard?

The phones are seen both on campuses which are obviously not road-related, and emergency call boxes often have blue lights, which you might see on the side of the road.

To the best of my knowledge, blue light-anything aren't in the MUTCD, but this application seems so ubiquitous that I don't know if blue lights can be used for something other than that. In other words, it seems to have become a standard, almost by accident.

Are blue lights used to signal anything else?
Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: Scott5114 on January 21, 2017, 06:06:54 AM
Sales at Kmart.
Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: jwolfer on January 21, 2017, 08:09:54 PM
Quote from: Scott5114 on January 21, 2017, 06:06:54 AM
Sales at Kmart.
LMAO

LGMS428

Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: CardInLex on January 22, 2017, 06:49:08 PM
Lexington, KY uses blue lights on the back of signal heads on US 27 (Nicholasville Road). This road was prone to constant red light runners and vehicles blocking intersections. The lights are illuminated when the opposing direction is red. The idea is for police to be able to tell when a vehicle runs the red light.

Here's an article from 2009 about their implementation:

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/70567397.html

Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: plain on January 22, 2017, 08:46:36 PM
Quote from: CardInLex on January 22, 2017, 06:49:08 PM
Lexington, KY uses blue lights on the back of signal heads on US 27 (Nicholasville Road). This road was prone to constant red light runners and vehicles blocking intersections. The lights are illuminated when the opposing direction is red. The idea is for police to be able to tell when a vehicle runs the red light.

Here's an article from 2009 about their implementation:

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/70567397.html

Same with several intersections in Newport News, Va
Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: DrSmith on January 22, 2017, 08:56:30 PM
In Springfield, Mass they are used to signify a parking ban is in effect because of snow. They kind of look like a kmart blue light, attached to one of the poles at major intersections.
Title: Re: Blue light phones (standards)?
Post by: cpzilliacus on January 22, 2017, 09:23:02 PM
Quote from: Dustin DeWinn on January 21, 2017, 12:46:29 AM
The phones are seen both on campuses which are obviously not road-related, and emergency call boxes often have blue lights, which you might see on the side of the road.

Not highway-related, but I have seen them on rail transit systems, especially systems with third-rail power.