Greening Traffic Lights By Turning Them Off

There are a lot of ideas about how to make traffic patterns greener through the adjustment of traffic lights. There's of course timing or actuating lights pegged to certain speed limits to allow drivers to stop and start less often, which helps reduce fuel consumption (but that can also be bad for pedestrians). In 2007, the U.S. federal government required that all new stoplights use energy-efficient bulbs. An entry in the annual Greener Gadgets Design Competition even suggested a traffic light that could also measure carbon levels.

But how's this for an idea to make traffic patterns greener (and, proponents say, safer): stop using traffic lights altogether. The so-called "naked streets" movement has gained traction across Europe, even in major cities like London.