Trials of a new sort of traffic light aimed at helping smartphone addicts cross the road safely appear to be proving a success, researchers say.

The new traffic light being tested in the town of Bodegraven consists of a led lighting strip in the pavement which officials hoped will alert ‘zombies’ who are looking at the road not at traffic.

The +Lichtlijn, as the traffic light is officially called, is linked to existing traffic lights and changes colour at the same time.

The tests have been running since February and the pavement light may be having a discernible psychological affect, the town council says on its website.

Walking aids

A report on the experiment by RoyalHaskoningDHV suggests that the light may be having an impact on where pedestrians and elderly people with walking aids stand while waiting for the lights to change.

However, observers only saw three smartphone users cross the road at the lights, and all three stopped looking at their phones while checking if they could cross.

The report states that not enough people used the junction to assess whether or not the pavement light actually works. Nevertheless, more research should be carried out at a busier location because it appears the light could have a positive effect, the report says.

Indispensable

Local alderman Kees Oskam said smartphones have become an indispensable part of our daily lives.

‘We are trying to make it as safe as possible, including on the streets,’ he said. ‘This report shows that the light can help achieve this. Of course paying attention yourself remains the norm, but the +Light Line allows us to give road users a little help.’

Dutch road safety organisation VVN does not back the new lighting system. ‘You are rewarding bad behaviour and making people even more addicted to their smart phones,’  Rob Stomphorst told broadcaster NOS.