Traffic light for micro:bit

Quick Answer: The Traffic light for micro:bit is a small add-on board with red, amber and green LEDs arranged like a road signal, connected to the BBC micro:bit and switched by code. Students program light sequences and timings, then extend the project into pedestrian crossings and smart junctions.

Coding a Traffic Signal

A traffic light is one of the clearest examples of a sequence. Before coding, students observe the order used on local roads, because it varies between countries, for example in whether amber shows together with red. They then write each step as a pin command and a pause, and test whether their timings are realistic. When the order is wrong, everyone watching can see the mistake, which makes debugging concrete.

Each LED is controlled by its own micro:bit pin, so the module teaches digital output directly: writing 1 turns a light on and writing 0 turns it off. Adding a button input turns the model into a pedestrian crossing, and a variable lets students lengthen the green phase at busy times. Two boards can coordinate a junction over radio.

How the module attaches to the micro:bit, whether by slotting onto the edge connector or by crocodile-clip leads, is not stated in the title and should be confirmed. The same module appears in city-model projects with the micro:bit streetlight and the Complete Micro City Pack.

Lesson Activities

• Coding a standard traffic-light sequence with correct timings
• Pedestrian crossing that responds to a button press
• Two-way junction coordinated by radio between two micro:bit boards
• Road-safety discussion using the model in lower classes

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the module and micro:bit away from loose metal objects that could short the pins.
• If connecting with crocodile clips, make sure no clip touches a neighbouring pin.
• Store the module flat so the LEDs are not bent over.

Why Choose LabEquip

Primary and lower-secondary coding classes often use a traffic light as their first external output. LabEquip lists this module in the STEM kits range. For a class set, send numbers through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the traffic light module teach?

It teaches sequencing, timing with pauses, digital outputs and loops. Adding a button introduces inputs and conditions, and radio links between boards introduce communication, all using a system students see every day.

Which sequence should students program?

Start with the sequence used on local roads, which students can observe and write down first. Sequences differ between countries, for example in whether amber shows together with red, so comparing them makes a good discussion.

How is the module controlled in code?

Each LED is connected to a micro:bit pin. Setting the pin to 1 lights that LED and setting it to 0 turns it off. A program switches the pins in order with pauses between them.

Can the traffic light be combined with a pedestrian crossing?

Yes. Add a button, either the micro:bit’s own button A or an external one, and write code that finishes the current phase, shows red to traffic and displays a walking figure on the LED grid.

Does the module need its own power supply?

LED modules of this size are normally powered through the micro:bit, which itself runs from USB or a battery pack. Read the documentation if the module has its own power connection.

Can it be used in a larger city model?

Yes. Traffic lights are often combined with barriers, streetlights and vehicles in smart-city projects, where students plan how each part responds to the others. Several boards can share information by radio.

Last Updated: September 2026