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Re: traffic lights



Joe Ekaitis (jekaitis@ix.netcom.com) wrote:
: 
: I don't think there's any hope of the U.S.A., or at least California,
: installing traffic signals that will help the driver at all.
: 
: You can no longer "hit all the greens" in California by driving at or
: near the speed limit because fixed-interval traffic signals are a thing
: of the past.  All of the traffic signals in California are
: traffic-activated, that is, sensors in the pavement send traffic flow
: information to the signals' control unit, supposedly so that the
: approaching vehicle can get a green light sooner and traffic flow would
: be much smoother, with fewer unnecessary stops.

This isn't true.  Many major streets have synchronized traffic lights.
However, the above "quick-acting" traffic activation seems quite common
on less travelled streets.  Nevertheless, it is not the most diabolical
feature of traffic control in these parts.  Here in Riverside, we have
a historic, palm-tree lined boulevard that runs for miles and miles with
a 45mph speedlimit and a 4-way stop sign at every block.  Now *that* is
the silliest way to burn up fuel and brake pads I've ever seen...

Mart Molle
Computer Science Department
University of California, Riverside.


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