New Universal Traffic Light Would Use Shapes to Inform the Colorblind

The era of traffic-light exclusion is at an end. The original traffic light was fine, but it didn’t allow those unable to distinguish the colors from knowing what they were supposed to do, and the non-conformity of color-location internationally with stop-lights meant that traveling color-blind individuals could get into some very confusing situations.

But along comes the UNISignal, the universal traffic light: Each color is now also paired with its own shape, allowing those who can’t distinguish the colors to now distinguish the shapes. Triangle means stop, circle means <joke about how people always speed through yellow lights even though they technically mean slow down>, and square means go. Now when the colors get rearranged, the shapes will be there to help everyone know exactly what’s going on, and nobody will be at a disadvantage.

This is probably a good idea. At the very least, it couldn’t hurt. But who knows how long it will take to get approved, and after that, how long it would take to replace, you know, every stoplight on the planet.

(Via Yanko Design via DVICE)