Lines On The Lights
Traffic lights aren’t often mistaken for anything else. The focus in this person’s question on identifying an object is referring to the lines over each individual light. The identification assumes that these lines are in front of the lights, rather than a part of them.
If so, these are likely fins used to prevent the light from being visible from an angle. These are commonly used at intersections that aren’t at a ninety-degree angle to avoid confusing drivers.