This device would never fly in the USA. When the light turns red a metal stop grate pops up, 18" off the ground.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG4gnxZxKQw

Also, that location looked like an extremely dangerous intersection where anyone who did run a red light could crash into the cross traffic. /sarcasm

Why is there a stop light there anyway?

Looks more like a security gate than a intersection control system.

Al

Looks like those light controlled entrances to a highway they had back east but it is kinda hard to tell.
Edit: Minus thet pop up gate.. Looking through the comments some people are saying embassy and others are saying they have them all over europe.
I'm glad they are finally getting red light cameras around where I am, if they aren't being all thrown out of court anyways, I think this pop up would be too much though.

That's COOL.:)

I bet anybody that hits it, never runs a red again. Looks like a pretty dang expensive repair to the undercarriage of the car. Now they just need to make it so two wheeled vehicles can't just zip around the sides of the barrier.

Why is there a stop light there anyway?

I've seen these kinds of things at military base entrances in the U.S., along with signs warning of severe vehicle damage of you run the red. I've never seen anybody actually run one, though.

RFM

along with signs warning of severe vehicle damage of you run the red.

Yup, I'd say that 2nd car suffered some damage for sure. Not to mention the dry cleaning bill. My pants would be soiled after a ride like that!

... Brad

But it didn't stop the car dead. If I was crossing at the crosswalk, I'd still be hit. They should pop the gate up in the middle of the street instead of at the other side.

That reminds me of a Roadrunner cartoon. The one when the coyote installs the popup iron wall in the road.:D

That would be fun on a MTB.

would be a real hassle.

Issue is what would happen if you were somehow stuck in traffic and couldn't go any farther than the 'gate' because of extremely high traffic?

Ken

Also, that location looked like an extremely dangerous intersection where anyone who did run a red light could crash into the cross traffic. /sarcasm

Why is there a stop light there anyway?

It looks like the road narrows on the left after this light. My guess is it narrows down to one lane total and likely then leads to a one lane bridge or tunnel. The Road to Milford Sound in New Zealand is like that (or at least was). But that was so far back that people respected lights (at least ones that explained what was happening).

If this is the case disabling the car of an idiot is far better than dealing with the head on collisions that would otherwise occur.

It's a security device, something one would find at an embassy or similar high security / value installations.

Nothing to get you panties in a bunch over, cept maybe if you on a one-way trip.

It's a security device, something one would find at an embassy or similar high security / value installations.

I didn't know that. Gee, now I'm feeling insignificant and all. Not my fault there is nothing important here. Wait... there is the Bicycle Playing Card Company! Take that place out and Vegas has to shut down because they can't get new decks. And it's bicycle related so this is a valid post.

Yep, all the playing cards are made here. Think of it, no 21, no poker, no gin rummy, no old maid, no bridge, no fish, no war.

I like it. Drivers actually have immediate, negative results to breaking the law. Maslow rules once again.

That device reminds me of these things: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUf1jYtsY_k

They have a similar device in front of the Whitehouse. When someone is cleared to go through, they drop the barrier, turn the light green, and the person can go. Light turns red when they're through and the barrier goes back up.

I didn't know that. Gee, now I'm feeling insignificant and all. Not my fault there is nothing important here. Wait... there is the Bicycle Playing Card Company! Take that place out and Vegas has to shut down because they can't get new decks. And it's bicycle related so this is a valid post.

Yep, all the playing cards are made here. Think of it, no 21, no poker, no gin rummy, no old maid, no bridge, no fish, no war.

Lithium?

I can see how this would work well for security, but it looks a little too extreme for normal traffic. Even though I like the instant justice aspect of it, it looks too dangerous. It could kill a cyclist, or at least cause serious injury. Yes, I know cross traffic could kill a red-light-running cyclist, but traffic controls should not. By popping cars so high in the air, it even puts cagers at risk.

Red light cameras should be enough. In Columbus, they have massively cut down on red light runners where they are placed. The cameras impose a financial penalty, and that's good enough for me.