[talmand]

If you're speaking of the traffic light pole providing protection, that might not be the case. I'm sure it's not the same everywhere, but for my area the poles are made to snap off at the base in case of a car hitting it. I would imagine the thought is that it saves the occupants of the car from a more severe impact, especially with the big poles.

[ygra]

I wasn't too serious about that, but from what I've seen they don't seem to snap easily; at least here. I'm also not sure whether it's better to have a traffic light pole falling on an intersection instead of just having a car stop at the pole (the former sounds like there could be more injuries involved).

[aestra]

Most are designed to snap off when hit. There is actually a real LOT that goes into roadway sign engineering and we have learned that it is the safest option. It's called a breakaway feature.

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/policy_guide/road_ha...

>Roadside signs, utility poles, lighting structures, traffic signals, railroad warning devices, motorist-aid callboxes, mailboxes, and other rigid objects can become deadly roadside hazards if placed where run-off-the-road vehicles can strike them. While it is preferable to maintain obstacle-free roadside clear zones, this is not always a practical option. When rigid objects cannot be removed or relocated, potential crash impacts can be mitigated by specifying breakaway features, or by shielding the object with a longitudinal barrier or crash cushion.

And here's a video of a light pole breakaway feature being tested. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbg5NkbuN6I

[couchand]

I would call that "feature" a "bug" on a street corner where pedestrians are standing.