Those 'cameras' on the top of traffic lights?

[Trickypl4]

At least they look like cameras. They're facing either at the oncoming traffic or away from the oncoming traffic.

They look like little sort of cctv cameras. Are they actually cameras at all?

Either way, what do they do, what is their purpose?

Richie.

[Davo]

As far as I'm aware their just little "radar" devices to sense if theres any traffic waiting.

[tree1]

Yeah, don't worry about them, they're not speed cameras.

I used to worry about some cameras facing the traffic attatched to the bridges crossing the A66, so one day I took the plunge and sped past them... not speed cameras.

[mr.z]

Think they pick up on waiting traffic or possibly rleated to ambulances, i.e. they can get them to give them priority.. not sure though might be a load of pants.. (have read about some kind of emergency services green light system works off infrared somewhere??)
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[Trickypl4]

Ok cheers

Just driving through the lights at Heworth metro station along the felling bypass the other night (Gateshead for those who are interested - not many I would've thought ) and I noticed them.

Although I've past them thousands of times I've never noticed them. Being a pedestrian all my life until last month

[BIKELESS STEVE]

It could be a Microwave Vehical Detector to monitor traffic flow at the juntion or if looks more like a Gatso there are Red Light Cameras that catch light jumpers

Look like this :

https://www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk/trafficlightcamera.jpg

[thanks to www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk for that one]

[carvell]

Yeah the CCTV looking things are just cameras to sense the traffic, so they know when the change and when it's best to let pedestrians cross.

They're an alternative to inductive loops in the road, which are more widely used.
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[murphyD]

I think some crafty bugger has put those cameras up so he can get a good view of clevage!

I'm on to you Mr Camera
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[THCi]

The traffic light mounted cameras are good, better than the inductive loops in the road. Mainly because unless your heavy and the bikes heavy the inductors wont pick you up.

Loads of lights on the way to work use inductors, and its a pain in the ar$e waiting for em to change!
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[alec_h]

Theres some sort of camera at my local 'major' traffic lights, and I've seen it flash when cars go through red lights.....hmmmm its painted yellow aswell
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[THCi]

Possibly combination gatzos/red light cameras. It look like the pic above?
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[impaler]

[Trickypl4]

No it doesn't look like the picture above, it's a fraction of the size. About the size of a cctv camera you'd get at your local convenience store.

Doesn't look to have any flash anywhere near it.

Even if it was a red light camera and it were to flash, what would be the penalty? Would it be a fine or a points on the licence job?

[ColdInsomnia]

Always wondered what those things were.
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"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
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[THCi]

They're just presence cameras, they do the exact same job as the induction loops in the road. And, are no more benign.
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Past: GZ 125 K4 Marauder, VL 125 LC Intruder, FZS 600 Fazer. Present: GSF 600 N K3 Bandit, GSX-R 600 X(soon)
"We're not gonna die. We can't die, Bendis. You know why? Because we are so...very...pretty. We are just too pretty for God to let us die."

[impaler]

[Trickypl4]

[Finglonga]

[THCi]

[colin1]

inductive loops work due to principles of electromagnetism.

without getting technical, anything with iron in it (such as steel) will be detected by the loop

so aluminium framed bikes are less likely to be detected than steel ones

elephants will be invisible to the inductive loop as elephants do not have a high iron content
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[Finglonga]

[colin1]

to be honest i think its quite unlikely that anyone makes steel underpants, and even if they did, im not sure they come in elephant sizes
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[Lawnie]