An apparatus for monitoring a signal transmitter for a traffic control signal installation. The signal transmitter has a light-emitting diode. The monitoring apparatus includes: a two-channel measuring device for measuring an actual light intensity of the light which is emitted by the diode and for measuring at least one electrical characteristic variable of the diode, and a control device for operating the signal transmitter depending on the measured actual light intensity and the measured electrical characteristic variable. There is also described a corresponding method, a signal transmitter, a traffic control signal installation and a computer program.