Trial of yellow pedestrian light on road crossings in Nantes
The lights are intended to improve pedestrian safety, but critics say the system is at risk of ‘misinterpretation’
The yellow lights are intended to make crossing safer
IZZ HAZEL / Shutterstock
The city of Nantes (Loire-Atlantique, Brittany) has become the latest in France to trial the addition of yellow lights on pedestrian crossings on certain major roads.
The yellow light comes on in between the green (go) and red (stop) lights, and is intended to signal to pedestrians two things:
If they are on the crossing when the light goes yellow: Hurry to get to the other side, as the light is about to change to red
If they have not yet entered the crossing when the light goes yellow: Do not enter or try to cross. Wait for the next green light.
The light is intended to make crossing safer and give pedestrians more information, so they do not accidentally enter a crossing too late and risk the vehicle lights changing to green before they have crossed.
Figures from the Observatoire national interministériel de la sécurité routière show that 439 pedestrians died in road accidents in 2023.
Cameras have also been installed above the lights to film pedestrians and analyse their behaviour in front of the new crossing signs.
The images will then be examined in detail by CEREMA (Centre d'études et d'expertise sur les risques, l'environnement, la mobilité et l'aménagement), with a view to drawing conclusions on the success of the trial within two years, reports France Bleu.
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‘Potential misinterpretation’
Yet, some have criticised the introduction of the new lighting system.
Workers at the CFDT union, linked to transport company Semitan in Nantes, said in an April 2024 press release that it believed there was a higher “risk of bus/pedestrian accidents" due to potential misinterpretation of the new signage.
Read also: Toulouse tests using AI to reduce driver wait at traffic lights
Other cities trialling yellow lights
It comes after six other cities introduced a similar system last year, in line with a decree published in the Journal Officiel on April 21, 2023.
These cities were:
Metz (Moselle, Grand Est)
Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle, Grand Est)
Nice (Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)
Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin, Grand Est)
Toulouse (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie)
The sixth city to introduce the system was Versailles (Yvelines, Île-de-France), but this trial has already finished after local authorities brought it to a close.
Read also: Yellow man to be tested as France bids to improve pedestrian safety
