Back in the 70's I knew a guy who was a uni lecturer, specialist subject, the social impact of planning. I was asked to a Q&A in a tutorial to a group of students who were destined to become road planning "engineers".

They turned out to be highly opinionated, anti car/vehicles in general, bunch.

Presumably now holding top jobs. Most desired to work for a council.

I have been to Europe where quite often the < speed limit approach lights are working. Excellent, a very good idea. I would think it really good in built up areas, where the brake and acceleration noise can bit a bit intrusive. The +++long wait if you are speeding is a real disincentive too.

The "flashing amber after 11pm" also works well in Europe, as far as I have seen. (France, Germany and Spain).

No doubt here you would get a lot of people assuming that flashing amber meant they could just waft through without a care, or looking.

Some of these lights may have the emergency vehicle free pass on them. A double flash may just trigger a change to green.

Oo you might know this answer to this question then mate..

Does it make the lights change faster if you flash your lights as you approach?

Or is that just a myth?

 

 

That'll depend on the type of lights I'd have thought. People do it because lights with sensors on top to 'see' cars might see the car sooner and thus change quicker. Obviously if the sensors are in the floor it's totally pointless

It does work with the photoreactive sensors, particularly if you approach the lights "out of the Sun". 

It does work with the photoreactive sensors, particularly if you approach the lights "out of the Sun". 

In other words, temporary road works lights. Sensor box usually p[laced on the top facing downwards.

They do generally work quite successfully I find.

 

I'm going to write an an email again regarding this set I've rambled on about up there somewhere^^^ that have only recently been re-set to obtain MAXIMUM annoyance...where the Queensferry by pass meets the Welsh Road......a pelican crossing ffs, 99.9 % used by only cyclists!!!! Correct, it's not even a junction!!!! 

 

Shouldn't really admit this openly, but as it's well lit, easy to see and very open, and there was nowt behind me last night, i didn't adjust my speed <cough>

Edited 5 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

If it's conspiracy you're after then here you go

 

£20 fine for sitting with engine running in Islington.

Some fat white woman from the green party wearing 'ethnic'  clothing 

was banging on about it on the news this morning. I didn't pay a lot of attention

to what she said as I was too busy hating her but here's a news article from the

evening standard on the subject. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/islington-council-diesel-engine-fine-20-drivers-north-london-9645605.html

If they make a few quid out of it, and they will since they have an ARMY of african traffic

wardens who ticket without mercy. (incentive scheme although you'll see little public admission

of that fact and a lot of them barely speak english making arguing with them pointless...

Absolute genius that!! btw. I disapprove entirely but admire the thought behind it, it's like arguing with

a somali pirate, the only thing missing is the automatic weapon and the chain of bullets)  

Then expect a UK wide rollout.  

 

 

(this doesn't apply to petrol cars btw,, just filthy smog making diesels)

(that they've spent the last 20 years getting us all to drive with reduced VED incentives)  

The question I have is, why can't we adopt the Flashing Amber light system on junctions that would be fine as a 3/4 directional give way? I know this is something that has been discussed in the news before, and some (Not all) would benefit from this.

 

I saw this in Austria and I didn't see a problem with it.

 

They also have a flashing green light before a light turns to Amber then to Red, probably to give more time for people to stop gently.

 

Motorway junctions where they have roundabouts, weren't most of them on part time traffic lights? What happened to them?

If it's conspiracy you're after then here you go

 

£20 fine for sitting with engine running in Islington.

Some fat white woman from the green party wearing 'ethnic'  clothing 

was banging on about it on the news this morning. I didn't pay a lot of attention

to what she said as I was too busy hating her but here's a news article from the

evening standard on the subject. http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/islington-council-diesel-engine-fine-20-drivers-north-london-9645605.html

If they make a few quid out of it, and they will since they have an ARMY of african traffic

wardens who ticket without mercy. (incentive scheme although you'll see little public admission

of that fact and a lot of them barely speak english making arguing with them pointless...

Absolute genius that!! btw. I disapprove entirely but admire the thought behind it, it's like arguing with

a somali pirate, the only thing missing is the automatic weapon and the chain of bullets)  

Then expect a UK wide rollout.  

 

 

(this doesn't apply to petrol cars btw,, just filthy smog making diesels)

(that they've spent the last 20 years getting us all to drive with reduced VED incentives)  

Do they now employ a 'think tank' to dream up these legalised  money thieving scams? 

No mate, that's what lefties are for. (apparently....)

In other words, temporary road works lights. Sensor box usually placed on the top facing downwards.

They do generally work quite successfully I find.

 

There are some permanent sets in Scotland, usually on narrow bridges. 

"stop traffic at the dead of night to try and encourage use of other ‘more suitable’ (their terms) routes."

Totally struggling with that one, and sounds like a load of waffle to me.

 

So, I try and find routes with no lights that may entail an extra 5 miles on my 3 mile journey?

Yea, REALLY makes sense that doesn't..

 

NOT having a pop at you btw, as I appreciate you don't actually dictate how they are set up.

 

Person A writes to their local councillor ranting about the traffic going past their house late at night waking up elderly relative / babies.

Councillor seeking re-election picks this as a good issue to get in the local rag. Gets picture taken in street with crying baby.

Councillor writes/shouts at senior manger / director in charge of roads dept whist waving local rag.

Manager director shouts at bloke who does traffic lights, "just fix it!"

Traffic light bloke either puts in more lights or changes lights to make that route a pain in the arse at night (or more likely all day).

Councillor re-elected or not and moves onto next issue/job

 

Other 50k residents ignored

 

Most people think Councillors are mickey mouse jobsworths, they are but they can also make big changes inside your area with very little reason.

You have to remember the Council is there to enact the political aims of the elected members, not to serve the local community.

Edited 5 August, 201411 yr by Aspman

So. You seem to know much about this subject then, so do tell us all, doesn't it totally wick you off at night time too when the lights change to red as you approach them with nothing trying to exit from the controlled junction?

If so, have you mentioned and queried it with the powers that be, and if so, what's the answer they come up with?

 

8 sets of lights tonight, and 3 turned red as i approached them at below the speed limit. 

 

If I'm honest yes it does - I know the reasons why it can happen but often can't see the justification for it...   when I've queried stuff like this before the answer has been denial, ignorance of a problem or a tracit acknowledgement of some political reason.

Totally struggling with that one, and sounds like a load of waffle to me.

 

So, I try and find routes with no lights that may entail an extra 5 miles on my 3 mile journey?

Yea, REALLY makes sense that doesn't..

 

NOT having a pop at you btw, as I appreciate you don't actually dictate how they are set up.

 

 

Ok the logic goes like this - you use a route where there are night-time noise issues from traffic, or you are on what some residents beleive is used as a rat-run.  They then make the lights change to red as you approach so your overall journey time is increased and you are delayed - in an endeavour to 'encourage' you to use another route that doesn't experience the same issues.  Yes that other route may be longer but it could be quicker with no red light delays and may give a more reliable journey time as a result.

What confuses me, is this.

Cars are manufactured to ever higher specifications in order to lower emissions and meet the latest standards. Euro 6 etc etc.

But then its okay to make everybody stop in the middle of the night, on an empty road, for no reason at all.

Your using your brakes to slow down, which isnt good for the environment, your engine is idling and wasting fuel while you wait, then you're using more fuel to accelerate back up to speed again.

Why is that okay? Its just wasteful.

I'm not a green freak or anything, not in the slightest, but i could be home faster and save fuel etc.

Just seems like a pointless excersize.

 

Totally agree but then there could be many other issues at stake as well - maybe the route you are travelling on is subject to speeding and accidents as a result??

 

I'm not saying it is or trying to defend things, just noting that there is an overall balance of factors to be achieved - it's not all about fuel use and emissions.

Edited 5 August, 201411 yr by skomaz

Oo you might know this answer to this question then mate..

Does it make the lights change faster if you flash your lights as you approach?

Or is that just a myth?

 

Mostly it is just a myth.  Some lights will detect flashing headlights but most won't.  In general the emergency services get through on a 'hurry call' or 'green wave' - whereby the local UTC (Urban Traffic Control room) will change light sequences either with a pre-programmed sequence or in real time via 'live' adjustments to get the responders out onto main thoroughfares.  You are in Derbyshire so if you know Sheffield at all and know where the new fire station is you'll know it has a number of traffic light junctions close by - they get a 'shout' and as they respond and the appliance doors open the lights start changing to get them stright out onto the ring road.

Edited 5 August, 201411 yr by skomaz

In other words, temporary road works lights. Sensor box usually p[laced on the top facing downwards.

They do generally work quite successfully I find.

 

I'm going to write an an email again regarding this set I've rambled on about up there somewhere^^^ that have only recently been re-set to obtain MAXIMUM annoyance...where the Queensferry by pass meets the Welsh Road......a pelican crossing ffs, 99.9 % used by only cyclists!!!! Correct, it's not even a junction!!!! 

 

Shouldn't really admit this openly, but as it's well lit, easy to see and very open, and there was nowt behind me last night, i didn't adjust my speed <cough>

 

Many of the temporary light set ups and most fixed ones with overhead sensors are actually microwave controlled, not photo-reactive - so flashing lights won't work at all.

The question I have is, why can't we adopt the Flashing Amber light system on junctions that would be fine as a 3/4 directional give way? I know this is something that has been discussed in the news before, and some (Not all) would benefit from this.

 

I saw this in Austria and I didn't see a problem with it.

 

They also have a flashing green light before a light turns to Amber then to Red, probably to give more time for people to stop gently.

 

Motorway junctions where they have roundabouts, weren't most of them on part time traffic lights? What happened to them?

 

Simple answer - most local highway authorities are scared of the consequences.  If they did do it and there was an accident they would no doubt be held to account and found to be to blame by some firm of legal people (note the use of the word 'people' rather than 'professinal' there).  That's a risk most council Officers and Politicians won't accept.

"stop traffic at the dead of night to try and encourage use of other ‘more suitable’ (their terms) routes."

 

Person A writes to their local councillor ranting about the traffic going past their house late at night waking up elderly relative / babies.

Councillor seeking re-election picks this as a good issue to get in the local rag. Gets picture taken in street with crying baby.

Councillor writes/shouts at senior manger / director in charge of roads dept whist waving local rag.

Manager director shouts at bloke who does traffic lights, "just fix it!"

Traffic light bloke either puts in more lights or changes lights to make that route a pain in the arse at night (or more likely all day).

Councillor re-elected or not and moves onto next issue/job

 

Other 50k residents ignored

 

Most people think Councillors are mickey mouse jobsworths, they are but they can also make big changes inside your area with very little reason.

You have to remember the Council is there to enact the political aims of the elected members, not to serve the local community.

 

That's a pretty good summary...   As an aside, complain enough and you 'should' be able to get them changed back unless there is an accident record as the number of complaints usually counts

Simple answer - most local highway authorities are scared of the consequences.  If they did do it and there was an accident they would no doubt be held to account and found to be to blame by some firm of legal people (note the use of the word 'people' rather than 'professinal' there).  That's a risk most council Officers and Politicians won't accept.

 

Nothing to do with the HA's, but with Legislation. It would need a change to quite a few national Laws.

There are traffic lights on a roundabout over the A1 near where I work, at off peak times they simply turn them off and let the traffic fend for themselves, it works really well.

Nothing to do with the HA's, but with Legislation. It would need a change to quite a few national Laws.

 

Apologies - your right it would require major changes to legislation and I didn't mention that - the point I was trying to make was that even if the legslation was in place to allow a flashing amber multi-way give way system I very much doubt that any loacl highway authority would step up and implement them.  My experience is that they are becoming quite risk averse in thier approach - and rightly so given the current state of parts of the legal system.

There are traffic lights on a roundabout over the A1 near where I work, at off peak times they simply turn them off and let the traffic fend for themselves, it works really well.

One set recently gone up on an extremely busy at a peak times roundabout a few miles from here, and they are part time, and also work extremely well too, so it does beg the question that if they can do that at one roundabout, why can't they do it at many others too?

 

Absolutely barking mad beyond belief, and whoever signs off all this crap off to create so much unnecessary delay tactics, should all be lined up very early one morning and strapped to their abominations.

Edited 6 August, 201411 yr by Mr Ree

Urgh. One stayed on red on me tonight until i got next to it n put my foot down. Absolutely nothing on the roads, at all.

I was quite happy cruising through town at 30mph on the bike. I didnt need the hassle of stopping n starting again for no reason haha.

I'm lucky! There's none for at least 15/ 20 miles in each direction!