LED beacon's light relief

One of the UK's oldest road safety features is getting a flash new make-over. The Belisha Beacon - introduced more than 70 years ago - now has a 'Mohican'-style ring, brighter lamps and smart sensors to improve visibility.

Auto Express Car Reviews

02nd May 2006

The first four new zebra crossing warning flashers have gone on trial in Norfolk. Their halo of bright yellow LEDs is directed at drivers but doesn't shine into buildings. This flashes in sync with a new super-bright LED inside the yellow globe, and it is all controlled by a sensor that checks surrounding light levels continuously. If it's dark, the lights are dimmed slightly, but if it is sunny or there's a lot of background glare, the power is boosted so the beacons always stand out.

Designer Tim Jarvis, of sign company Westcotec in Dereham, Norfolk, penned the new look after realising he'd driven through a zebra crossing without noticing the traditional beacons. He said: "I thought they needed to be more conspicuous." It costs up to £35,000 to replace zebras with easier-to-see traffic light-controlled pelican crossings. But the patented Zebrite costs a tenth of the price, and doesn't hold up traffic when nobody is crossing. The LEDs are expected to last for more than a decade, too.

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