How Traffic Lights Work
Many street lights are equipped with Traffic Signal Preemption systems like the 3M Opticom or the Tomar Strobecom. These systems enable emergency vehicles to change the traffic signals from Red to Green, and to change the traffic signals for others from Green to Red. This enables emergency vehicles to travel more quickly and more safely.
These systems operate by means of a receiver mounted on the traffic signal and a transmitted mounted inside the emergency vehicle.
The transmitter is an infrared light which is flashed at the receiver. The transmitter inside the vehicle may transmit a low-priority signal (10 Hz) or a high-priority signal (14 Hz).
This technology was at one time limited to authorized law enforcement and emergency organizations — and electronic hobbyists. Recently, vendors such as MIRT – Mobile Infrared Transmitter for Emergency Vehicles have made the equipment available to the general public.
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