Possible new traffic light system

[bikertomm]

"Traffic lights turn red if a speeding vehicle is approaching"

https://uk.autoblog.com/2011/05/19/swindon-to-trial-traffic-lights-as-speed-controllers/

Yeah, because that's going to make them go slow once they are through the traffic light

If anything it's going to make people more annoyed / frustrated. It is quite annoying when they change on you but it should not catch you out.

Another thing though can't see this really working supposing everyone speeds up to it? Red lights all round lol

And more use of emergency stops or cars just slamming on their brakes could be an arse.

Meh... Thoughts?


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[The Artist]

The brakes on my bike are MOT passable but that is about it. They don't stop the bike very well so when a light turns amber, I pin it because if I braked I wouldn't make it.

I think it will cause more accidents with learner drivers who will slam on as soon as it goes red.

[Redoko]

A few traffic lights don't even recognize me on the road. As in I have to either turn around and go another route of wait for a car to turn up behind me so the light knows I'm there, waiting.

What happens if the lights don't 'see' someone coming and there's a fatality?

Keep them as they are IMO, but decrease the times it takes between 1 light going to red, and another set going to amber.
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"Let's face it, this is not the worst thing you've caught me doing."
Sudika Sportsman SK50QT > Gilera DNA50 > Honda CBR125 RW7 > Kawasaki Zephyr750 > Suzuki GSXR600 > Honda Hornet CB600F '51

[bikertomm]

^^ Agreed, I think they are fine as they are really.

If something ain't broke..


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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[soforene]

[Pete.]

[Redoko]

[blurredman]

Amber gamblers are more apaprent then they used to be.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[Jamie S]

In france the lights seem to jump from red to green, they dont really flash amber, No idea why they bother with having an amber light included in them over there really.....
I do like the "mini" set of lights mounted on the post of the lights, so the first driver can see what the lights are showing. I really hate some lights over here that you can't see when your stopped at the line......

[Pete.]

[soforene]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

Green : Go
Amber : Go faster
Red : Go, paying particular attention to steering


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Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[Charlie]

They do this in Spain and I think it works. The Spanish drives get pissed off when they have stopped at lights for a car in front that was speeding. People will soon learn. It was mostly used on the approach into towns where they stepped the speed down gradually.

I'd also agree with Pete, having commuted through London I much preferred how most lights didn't have a gap between different lanes changing. When riding around the NW, you're forever getting people gunning through all ambers, even the ones that have a fast change over time. You have to be careful when leaving the lights 'quickly' on the bike.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Marmalade]

[yen_powell]

The calculation of green times and the intergreen period between different arm movements is a precise and noble science.

Very clever men and women (possibly in half moon glasses) pore over vehicle counts, queue lengths and speed surveys to come up with precisely the most safe yet efficient combination of times required for each junction.

This is all programmed into a computer chip which is inserted into a very expensive equipment cabinet near the signals.

Then it is run for the first time, causing chaos and mayhem, hooting, anger, shouting, delays and then out of the sunset walks a large grubby looking man in overalls that don't fit properly, sent by the signal people. He is Head Signal Tweaker from central depot. He opens the cabinet and manually adjusts the times to something that actually works a bit better. Normal traffic light 'mild annoyance' is restored!
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

I can't see this system working.

Between the hours of about 10pm, and 7am everoyne speeds everywhere, simply because there's very little traffic around. Are you actually suggesting that it's a good idea to have this sytem active at that time?

Then it would just lead to more people jumping red lights...personally I don't see why we can't have an American style flashing amber phase at silly o'clock. Would work much better.

[Rogerborg]

Sentient beings treat red lights as meaning "You do not have right of way", no more, no less.

Discuss.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Wyldkat]

and I quote....

*...what it does is it destabilises the driver.

"Frequently you see drivers just concentrating on themselves rather than what's happening in front of them. What this does is it takes those drivers out of that comfort zone and makes them concentrate on what's actually happening ahead."*

So, you may as well run over and smash people of their bikes or throw a brick through the car windscreen.... will have the same affect!
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Oldie - 1987 Suzuki GP100 SOLD!
Current (as of 12/7/12) 2001 Honda Varadero 125

[blurredman]

I don't even like the idea of sensors. Why cannot they just all be on a circuit like they used to be. I know that sensors are supposed to allow the main roads to just 'go through' but sometimes they do the oposit andchange to red and no one comes.. And you have to wait for a car to drive up behind you for it to change.
____________________
CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 52k.

[jrolph94]

Its going to fail. Its the Cat & Fiddle average speed camera all over again, looks good on paper in some pen pushing counciller's office, but is a poor idea.

[Killy]

[Nexus Icon]

[ZebraDriver]

I've seen these in Portugal. They work because everyone gets pissed at having to wait at the lights because someone has been speeding, as a result everyone drives at the correct speed.

They are not at junctions etc, they are simply a set of lights a some point along a road and the detector that brings them into operation is set well back from the lights so there is no chance of an emergency stop or anything like that.

A much better idea than speed cameras ('cos you don't get points) and they work!

ZD

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]