What are the flood lights on the stop lights about?
In 1999, an Opticom system was installed in the Barrington Area. Each emergency vehicle was outfitted with a special emitter, and each stoplight with a special receiver. When an emergency vehicle with its warning lights on approaches an intersection, the light recognizes the vehicle and turns the intersection to green in the direction the vehicle is traveling. So the driver knows he or she has “captures” the light, the flood light on the stop light blinks in the direction of travel. In the opposite directions, the floodlights glows solidly to indicate to other emergency vehicles that another vehicle is approaching the intersection in the opposite direction. The cost for this system was split between the Village of Barrington and the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District.
