A traffic light that does not fine or take photographs, but only blocks those who go too fast: it is called EVOLIGHT and it is a device developed in France by the Élan Cité company. It is designed to educate on correct driving, not to punish. It works like this: the traffic light remains red for everyone, but only turns green if the vehicle approaches within the speed limit. If the speed is too high, it stays red for a few seconds, forcing the driver to stop. There are no penalties, just a waste of time. And this is often enough to push the driver to slow down.
The system is based on a Doppler antenna, capable of accurately detecting the speed of vehicles (with a margin of error of ±1%). The same type of technology has already been in use for over ten years on more than 30,000 EVOLIS pedagogical radars spread across France.
It really works
EVOLIGHT has already been tested in Templeuve-en-Pévèle, northern France, in a 30 km/h zone. According to data collected by the municipality, motorists’ behavior has improved: less acceleration, more attention. The advantage, compared to classic bollards, is that it does not damage car suspensions, does not create inconvenience for residents and does not produce legal disputes like radars.
Some have tried to circumvent the system – for example, some motorcyclists – but the overall impact is positive. It is a system that does not oblige, but conditions. And in an urban context, it can be more effective than repressive devices.
Simple to install, even solar powered
From a technical point of view, the traffic light can work with electric or solar energy, thanks to a 215 W panel and two 12V lead batteries. It is therefore also suitable for isolated areas or secondary roads where there is no connection to the network.
The entire system can be managed remotely via a dedicated app (iOS and Android). Municipal technicians can access traffic data in real time: number of vehicles, average speed, speed peaks. Useful information for planning any changes to the road system or for understanding whether the intervention is producing concrete results.
The installation is quite simple: two road panels, one to indicate the traffic light (A17) and one to explain how it works (“Respected speed = green light”), plus a possible M12f sign to allow the passage of cyclists, who are not yet detected by the system.
The cost varies between 20,000 and 40,000 euros, in line with other traffic management devices, but with less maintenance and more acceptance by citizens.
No Italian municipality has yet officially adopted EVOLIGHT. There are no public notices, tenders or declarations from local administrations. But in urban contexts where speed cameras and speed bumps are increasingly contested, an education system like this could represent a valid alternative.
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