03-14-2008, 09:58 AM
In another post we debated red light cameras. Being sensitive to the rules of mid-stream hijacking I thought I'd start another one. My arguments seem to fall flat on the average public, but this group is anything but average so I am eager to hear your thoughts on these man-made millstones.
Topics here -
1) Motion Sensored traffic lights.
2) HOV lanes
1) Motion sensored lights. Seems like a good idea, especially if you need to turn left into the main flow of the intersection. After about 3 days of driving though you start to see the flaw. If you are on the main flow of traffic and there is any gap between you and the cars ahead then your choice is to jam the breaks or grab a gear to make the light. Seems to me that more people do the latter, creating very high speed passes through the intersection. Makes me really careful crossing from a red. I long for the days of timed lights and predictable intervals.
2) HOV - dumbest traffic engineering stunt in the history of mankind. Designed to reduce congestion and convince me to go 10 miles out of my way to pick up my buddy before I do to work right? 5-lane highway, oh, make that a 4-lane with a single lane that has almost no traffic. During my morning commute in SD all the HOV lane does is take away 20% of the drivable surface, thereby increasing congestion. On the weekends when more cars have more people in them there isn't the traffic to justify the HOV idea in the first place.
Topics here -
1) Motion Sensored traffic lights.
2) HOV lanes
1) Motion sensored lights. Seems like a good idea, especially if you need to turn left into the main flow of the intersection. After about 3 days of driving though you start to see the flaw. If you are on the main flow of traffic and there is any gap between you and the cars ahead then your choice is to jam the breaks or grab a gear to make the light. Seems to me that more people do the latter, creating very high speed passes through the intersection. Makes me really careful crossing from a red. I long for the days of timed lights and predictable intervals.
2) HOV - dumbest traffic engineering stunt in the history of mankind. Designed to reduce congestion and convince me to go 10 miles out of my way to pick up my buddy before I do to work right? 5-lane highway, oh, make that a 4-lane with a single lane that has almost no traffic. During my morning commute in SD all the HOV lane does is take away 20% of the drivable surface, thereby increasing congestion. On the weekends when more cars have more people in them there isn't the traffic to justify the HOV idea in the first place.
