Traffic Lights could save fuel, but they don't
Discussion
Why do traffic lights turn red for no reason? Then, when we stop, we're going to be expected to turn our engines off to "save fuel"??
The second lights in this clip could have kept the traffic moving, no one came from the left when it changed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU50SUYO4pA
This kind of thing is causing impatience, like the Peugeot in the clip which goes through the red.
The second lights in this clip could have kept the traffic moving, no one came from the left when it changed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU50SUYO4pA
This kind of thing is causing impatience, like the Peugeot in the clip which goes through the red.
This really annoys me too. Traffic lights are supposed to create a smooth flow of traffic but their sequencing often is diabolical. Often I work late and subsequently I'll be driving home on the motorway around midnight. Leave at my exit and the traffic lights on the roundabout island almost always seem to go red on me. So I stop, wait patiently for the square root of f
k all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey.
Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
k all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey. Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
Muddle238 said:
This really annoys me too. Traffic lights are supposed to create a smooth flow of traffic but their sequencing often is diabolical. Often I work late and subsequently I'll be driving home on the motorway around midnight. Leave at my exit and the traffic lights on the roundabout island almost always seem to go red on me. So I stop, wait patiently for the square root of fk all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey.
Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
Totally agree which is why I'm glad i don't have to bother using the car any more for work. Stuff like this really wound me up. If it was the middle of the night I'd probably end up with points as I'd end up just deciding for myself whether it was safe to proceed and end up getting caught. k all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey. Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
Because they're set on timers instead of some kind of fancy algorythm, they would work so much better if there was some way to monitor traffic flow and change lights to suit the heaviest flow. I'm forever stuck at Jct 9 of the M40 because the morning rush blocks the roundabout, even when there is only room for a handful of vehicles they still continue to change as normal meaning all 3 lanes move forward when there is nowhere to go thus blocking the traffic that could clear the roundabout allowing the stuck traffic to clear. I swear this country is stuck in the dark ages in some respects.
I used to get to J8 M62 at 4am , I'd be driving up to the roundabout to a green light , 50m away and it'd go to red , sit there for 30 seconds , green , next set on red, another 30 seconds then if I hoofed it I could get through the next set on green
Never anything on the roundabout , it used to do my fking nut in
Never anything on the roundabout , it used to do my f
king nut in Muddle238 said:
Traffic lights are supposed to create a smooth flow of traffic but their sequencing often is diabolical. Often I work late and subsequently I'll be driving home on the motorway around midnight. Leave at my exit and the traffic lights on the roundabout island almost always seem to go red on me. So I stop, wait patiently for the square root of fk all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey.
Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
In some large cities, the lights are programed during the small hours, to prevent/disrupt excessive speed.k all to come through the junction, then eventually I am "allowed" to continue my journey. Even more infuriating is being established on a roundabout, when lights ahead change to red. You stop, lights sequence allows one car that was waiting to join said roundabout join, then after a little think their lights begin the changeover sequence to eventually allow mine to go back to green. If there were no traffic lights, then the other car could have simply joined behind me, in a fraction of the time it took the traffic lights to come to the same outcome.
I wish that the Highways monkeys set traffic lights between 2330-0430hrs to just flash amber all night, that way you can ignore the TL's and treat each junction like a normal non-TL-controlled junction, making progress for the few cars on the road at that time of night just that little bit easier.
Bradford is the worst example I have come across, driving through Bradford between midnight and 05:00 takes an age. Even when lights are already green, the inductive loop in the road detecting an oncoming car, will trip the lights to RED, even when there is nothing coming from any other direction. The quickest outcome is for another car to arrive from whichever direction currently has the green, and that will then trip RED.
The only alternative is to wait out the timing, which can sometimes take minutes.
If ever we perfect artificial intelligence, I hope one of the first widespread uses for it is traffic lights. Imagine a set of lights which could replicate a human traffic policeman and could control the flow of traffic based on the number, speed and the type of vehicles approaching the junction.
Not only would it vastly improve journey times, but also efficiency for large vehicles; we complain about having to stop in a car - imagine the frustration of having to haul up a 44 ton artic just because you were a few seconds behind the light sequence. An AI controlled light could recognise a heavy vehicle approaching and keep the lights green a few seconds longer so it can keep rolling.
Not only would it vastly improve journey times, but also efficiency for large vehicles; we complain about having to stop in a car - imagine the frustration of having to haul up a 44 ton artic just because you were a few seconds behind the light sequence. An AI controlled light could recognise a heavy vehicle approaching and keep the lights green a few seconds longer so it can keep rolling.
Leptons said:
We should be able to turn left on a red. Unfortunately it'll never happen because the government want us to be a nation of brainwashed, robot, worker ants.
I think it's more a case that it would require expensive junction amendments across large parts of the country to make this practical.Edited by Conscript on Friday 31st March 06:26
Otispunkmeyer said:
I hate when you hit one red and then that's it. You're fked and destined to hot every red on the way to wherever it is you are going.
There are some lights near me that are the same. Unless you engage launch control and floor it, which I'm not sure was the intention of the people who set the lights up in such a dumb pattern.ked and destined to hot every red on the way to wherever it is you are going.One set near me on a quiet road default to red and only go green when you've basically come to a stop right at the line. Not particularly efficient.
The most frustrating thing for me though are the ones (presumably all of them) that take no account of heavy traffic from particular directions during rush hour. There is a 4 way set on my commute, one direction is queued back a mile or more in the morning and the other directions are very very light, yet if a single car pulls up at one of the other junctions they pretty much immediately then cycle through.
To add to the frustration, the busy direction is a steep uphill, it only takes one car to pull away slowly (which always happens) for the sensors to assume that the road is now clear and they switch to red.
As with all of these things, when the lights failed once the roads were pretty efficient.
The most frustrating thing for me though are the ones (presumably all of them) that take no account of heavy traffic from particular directions during rush hour. There is a 4 way set on my commute, one direction is queued back a mile or more in the morning and the other directions are very very light, yet if a single car pulls up at one of the other junctions they pretty much immediately then cycle through.
To add to the frustration, the busy direction is a steep uphill, it only takes one car to pull away slowly (which always happens) for the sensors to assume that the road is now clear and they switch to red.
As with all of these things, when the lights failed once the roads were pretty efficient.
Edited by ukaskew on Friday 31st March 12:39
Conscript said:
If ever we perfect artificial intelligence, I hope one of the first widespread uses for it is traffic lights. Imagine a set of lights which could replicate a human traffic policeman and could control the flow of traffic based on the number, speed and the type of vehicles approaching the junction.
That can be done now. Artificial Intelligence is not required just a well thought out algorithm. Unfortunately improving traffic flow is not the only purpose of traffic lights as others have pointed out.Otispunkmeyer said:
I hate when you hit one red and then that's it. You're fked and destined to hot every red on the way to wherever it is you are going.
This is the A12 from Gallows corner onward towards London. If you get one red you're totally screwed. If you see a green and get through it and keep a constant speed you're OK.ked and destined to hot every red on the way to wherever it is you are going.Leptons said:
We should be able to turn left on a red. Unfortunately it'll never happen because the government want us to be a nation of brainwashed, robot, worker ants.
In Florida, it's so nice being able to turn right on a red. Definitely something the yanks have right. That and car parking spaces where you can open your doors without dinging another car.sparks_E39 said:
Leptons said:
We should be able to turn left on a red. Unfortunately it'll never happen because the government want us to be a nation of brainwashed, robot, worker ants.
One of the reasons I love driving in America is the turn right on red policy. Their roads just work much better.FeelingLucky said:
In some large cities, the lights are programed during the small hours, to prevent/disrupt excessive speed.
Bradford is the worst example I have come across, driving through Bradford between midnight and 05:00 takes an age. Even when lights are already green, the inductive loop in the road detecting an oncoming car, will trip the lights to RED, even when there is nothing coming from any other direction. The quickest outcome is for another car to arrive from whichever direction currently has the green, and that will then trip RED.
The only alternative is to wait out the timing, which can sometimes take minutes.
Ah, this explains a lot! I've noticed late at night that a roundabout stops us a two of the three lights when it definitely doesn't during the day.Bradford is the worst example I have come across, driving through Bradford between midnight and 05:00 takes an age. Even when lights are already green, the inductive loop in the road detecting an oncoming car, will trip the lights to RED, even when there is nothing coming from any other direction. The quickest outcome is for another car to arrive from whichever direction currently has the green, and that will then trip RED.
The only alternative is to wait out the timing, which can sometimes take minutes.
Right PITA!
Somebody told me once that, in Germany, once you were on a main route, you would only have to stop at the first light for as long as you continued on that route. The lights were set up such that, as long as you were sticking to the speed limit, subsequent lights were timed to be green when you got there.
Doesn't that sound nice?
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