Traffic Light Talk

In continuing our traffic series this post will sum up the ideas of traffic lights covered over the recent weeks, with an interesting twist. To date we have covered: red light means stop, yellow light reminds us to pause, and green light tells us to go. To Move FWDS, we use the metaphor of the traffic lights to connect with human behavior. Now let’s make the traffic lights talk.

While researching for relevant facts and articles about those posts mentioned above. An interesting result of traffic light usage in Europe was found, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe used the green, yellow/amber, and red light to communicate covid rates in areas. What an amazing and innovative method! We’ll discover more about this and how traffic lights talk below, with their purpose, problems and how we could connect it to human behavior.

Traffic Light Talk: Red Light Meaning Covid Conditions

The red light was a way to show others how infected an area was. It may have more than 50 new infections per 100,000 people. And potentially growing numbers at that! If you went to an area of red traffic lights, you would know the area is highly infected and you should get out while you still can! The test-positive rate needed to be above 4% for the red zone.

Graphs and news updates would also show the European countries with high infection rates as red zones. Traffic light talk was connected to these equally matched color zones for clarity.

Traffic Light Talk: Yellow Light Meaning Covid Conditions

If new infection rates remained between 25 and 50 cases per 100,000 people the traffic lights would show the yellow or amber tone. With the test-positive rate being below 4%. Not exactly a safe zone, but you may be safer in a yellow zone, than a red zone.

Traffic Light Talk: Green Light Meaning Covid Conditions

Lastly, if the infection rates were less than 25 cases per 100,000 people the traffic lights would show the green light. The test-positive rate would be less than 4% just as in the yellow zone.

Read more about the traffic lights talking through their respective colors through these web articles:
Coronavirus: The EU’s new traffic light system explained – DW – 10/14/2020
Green and amber lists could go in travel rules shake-up (bbc.com)

The Problem of Traffic Light Talk

This innovative European idea worked for talking about COVID hot spots and safe zones. The entire movement was a voluntary action. Only IF countries wanted to opt in, they could.

A new risk forms with the unclearness of whether an entire zone is safe or not.

This type of communication can be used in general human behavior.

Traffic Light Talk in life

We’ve just covered how traffic lights can be used as a way to communicate a level of safety. Now we can use the same principles in our personal and professional, even in our home situations. Take this following checklist as a coping measure. Not all the points will be relevant in the same sitting so use what is needed for the moment you are in. Recalibrate. Then move forwards.

A note to remember. Because you have gained awareness on what needs to change for yourself, you may even flag this to your closest family and friends. But take caution. Just as we saw above with every European country allowed to choose for themself in whether to take part in the traffic light talk, so too others can choose for themselves.

In hiking the speed of the team is determined by the slowest trekker. Just as in communication the best of the team is determined by the least conductive member.
– The Mover: Mover FWDS

Checklist for Traffic Talk

RED / STOP

• Stop what you are doing
• Breathe
• Look at something relaxing

YELLOW / WAIT or PAUSE

• Take time to consider

• Ask yourself what are you doing?
• Is this sustainable in the long run?
• Will these activities lead to burnout?
• Is this the best financial situation?
• What will happen if you don’t make the decision?

GREEN / GO

• Move fwds, slowly
• After assessing the yellow light, what small way can you start to move fwds?
• Moving over lumps, bumps, twists, and bends, is still movement.

Want a visual of this checklist for yourself? Great! Check it out on the freebies page or click here.

Until next time! Stay safe. Stop, pause and then go as you need to in order to Move FWDS!