Fixtures attached traffic signals are becoming an increasingly common sight - but what exactly are they for?
Have you ever wondered what the little boxes on top of sme traffic signals are?
Fixtures like this are becoming more and more common as councils look to technology to try and reduce congestion so expect to see thme more often.
They're part of systems called magnetometers which can detect vehicles and can be used to monitor traffic flows.
The boxes themselves are called repeater points and allow the signals to travel to the main access point where data is recorded.
Magnetometer systems will typically be used when an inductive loop system, which uses magnetic technology physically installed in the road, isn't an option.
For example, magnetometers are used on the Felling bypass becuase installing or maintaining an inductive loop would be tricky given the heavy traffic on the road.
The North East will see a surge of smart technology being rolled out across road networks as councils seek to tackle congestion and air pollution.
As reported last month, the North East Combined Authority will spend £3.64m on hi-tech systems after receiving a £2.8m boost from the Department for Transport.
The main change will be an increase in cameras which can track vehicles by reading number plates, allowing signals to be adjusted to suit traffic volume.
A futuristic road crossing made entirely of LED lights and operated by cameras was recently unveiled by a London based firm called Umbrellium.
The crossing, which is in the prototype phase, can alert drivers when a pedestrian is about to step into the road without looking and change size depending on how many people are using it.