More red light accidents?

[AutobahnSHO]

Audi rolling out "red light countdowns for more cities. Light turns green, you go quicker, theoretically speeding up traffic. Instead, people will zone out with their phones and/or go quicker and get hit by a red-light-runner?

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/audi-apos-traffic-light-countdown-120000641.html

[CaminoRacer]

Brazil, and apparently Bangkok, have timers next to the lights. In Brazil it would count down for both red & green lights. I thought it was super nice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZWsZ46XvWM

[giant_mtb]

I love crosswalk signs with countdowns...I don't know why more people don't pay attention to them while waiting at a red light.

[TBR]

In the UK, you get a yellow before then green, and, not shockingly, lights get jumped all the time. Seems highly stupid.

[Morris Minor]

Traffic lights are nasty, pollution-causing, dangerous relics that need to be ripped out wherever possible.

[12,000 RPM]

Cant put roundabouts everywhere

I do think traffic lights could definitely use an update. They could be a lot smarter

[AutobahnSHO]

Cant put roundabouts everywhere

I do think traffic lights could definitely use an update. They could be a lot smarter

It totally bugs me when I see lines cut in the pavement for sensors but the lights are stooopid. 

[giant_mtb]

It totally bugs me when I see lines cut in the pavement for sensors but the lights are stooopid. 

What about them is stupid?  You get on the sensor, it trips a timer, you get a green.  They're great for low-traffic roads that meet up with high-traffic roads.  The high-traffic road will keep its green unless a car trips the sensor from the low-traffic road. 

[AutobahnSHO]

What about them is stupid?  You get on the sensor, it trips a timer, you get a green.  They're great for low-traffic roads that meet up with high-traffic roads.  The high-traffic road will keep its green unless a car trips the sensor from the low-traffic road. 

When there are sensors there and no other cars in any other lane any direction and I wait a full minute for the light to change. Should trip pretty quickly if there's NO other traffic.

[Laconian]

When there are sensors there and no other cars in any other lane any direction and I wait a full minute for the light to change. Should trip pretty quickly if there's NO other traffic.

Many lights have longer minimum green light durations during rush hour.

[AutobahnSHO]

Many lights have longer minimum green light durations during rush hour.

LOL I know.

I'm talking a few intersections that, no matter the time of day, make you wait, even if you're the only one there. But they did put sensors in!  Not sure why, they're not reacting to cars.

[giant_mtb]

You ever worked for your state DOT?  It's not as simple as you'd like it to be with basic traffic light timers. If you want smarter lights, talk to your local government.

[giant_mtb]

LOL I know.

I'm talking a few intersections that, no matter the time of day, make you wait, even if you're the only one there. But they did put sensors in!  Not sure why, they're not reacting to cars.

They're not?  That's ignorant.  They absolutely are. Those timers are tuned for optimal traffic flow at the worst congestion times.  DOT employees literally sit at traffic areas all day taking notes and producing models for the best timing...which means nothing when there's no traffic.

Am I saying lights shouldn't be more responsive in the off-hours?  No.  But am I saying lights are performing their function when they really need to?  Absolutely.

[AutobahnSHO]

You ever worked for your state DOT?  It's not as simple as you'd like it to be with basic traffic light timers. If you want smarter lights, talk to your local government.

I'm sure most DOT people are great. These are Federal people, on federal property, who obviously don't know how to use any of the smart on the lights.

Oh btw there are a few intersections that although no one is sitting in the left turn lanes, the cycle goes "left turn lanes - green straights - left turn lanes the other directions - green straights other directions - left turn lanes" etc...

Literally the lights go through the same cycle no matter time of day or actual traffic. And they just redid a couple intersections in the last 2 years I've been here.

Just gets really annoying. 

[Soup DeVille]

They're not?  That's ignorant.  They absolutely are. Those timers are tuned for optimal traffic flow at the worst congestion times.  DOT employees literally sit at traffic areas all day taking notes and producing models for the best timing...which means nothing when there's no traffic.

Am I saying lights shouldn't be more responsive in the off-hours?  No.  But am I saying lights are performing their function when they really need to?  Absolutely.

Clearly there are times when they get it wrong.

[Morris Minor]

Cant put roundabouts everywhere

I do think traffic lights could definitely use an update. They could be a lot smarter

Agreed, that's why I said, "where possible."

The city I lived in invested millions in smart lights, adding lanes, adding & lengthening turn lanes and putting in roundabouts (beyond the capabilities of, and so annoying, the  soccer moms).  It helped but ultimately when you pile enough traffic in to a given area, it will tip over to gridlock. The next step would be autonomous cars negotiating with each other & the infrastructure.

PS the thread title should be "More Red Light Crashes" (not "accidents.")