Why Premium Batteries Are Needed for Backup at Traffic Light Intersections

When storms roll in, they bring with them the risks of downed wires and power outages. For the individual at home, power outages are mostly annoying and an inconvenience, but very rarely dangerous. That, however, all changes out on the road. A storm that causes a power outage can lead to blackouts in traffic lights, and with lights out or on the fritz, the city risks an increased rate of accidents that can come with dire consequences. One way to avoid such undesired events is by utilizing premium batteries for traffic light intersections.

Why Premium Batteries Are Needed for Backup at Traffic Light Intersections

When a power outage cuts out a traffic light, the legal standard is for drivers to treat the intersection light as a four-way stop sign. However, it's easy for drivers to get confused, as traffic lights that lose power or get overloaded can do several things. Sometimes, the traffic lights will shut off completely, while other times, such as with an electrical surge, the traffic light will have some power but being shortened out will have disconnected it with the greater traffic grid. This causes it to turn on with a signaled 'emergency state' which causes the light to blink a repeated red -- or at least it should.

In some cases, a stoplight will flash yellow in two directions and red in the others. This can be confusing, as by law, drivers should still proceed with caution, but many drivers will run through the yellow and cause an accident. Other times, when there are no backup premium batteries to reconnect the light with the grid, a shortage or power outage can result in a massive error, such as a light showing green in all directions. This type of malfunction can certainly increase the risk of accidents.

If you are charged with an accident caused by traffic lights, then you also are charged with the risks associated with them. If a driver is in an accident or even if they partially caused an accident where there was a malfunctioning or nonworking traffic light, then the city or county can be sued for damages. The best way to protect yourself against these types of lawsuits and protect citizens from accidents caused by malfunctioning traffic lights is to have backup premium batteries installed.

What backup premium batteries will do is eliminate the threat of the traffic light from ever going off-grid in the event of a power outage, power surge, or some other type of catastrophe that separates the traffic light. Premium batteries that serve as back-ups will immediately switch on in the event of such a catastrophe and reduce the risk of related accidents.

Premium batteries are high-performance batteries that are comprised of the best in components by skilled and experienced technicians. While just a bit more than standard batteries, premium batteries can have twice the life as lower-grade models and most include warranties that offer reimbursement should you ever have a failure.

Contact MK Battery to Learn More

While installing backup premium batteries is an investment, especially if you are looking to do so across a major area, they are an investment that municipalities will recoup in reduced maintenance and potential litigation. Furthermore, the more traffic lights on a grid you install with backup premium batteries, the more equipped they will be to maintain full, normal traffic operations in the event of a surge or power outage.

Learn more about how these types of backup premium battery systems work and how you can start integrating them in your community by contacting our team at MK Battery today.