Speaking of traffic management... - Printable Version
+- 968Forums.com (https://968forums.com/forum)
+-- Forum: THE 968 FORUMS PUB (https://968forums.com/forum/the-968-forums-pub)
+--- Forum: NON PORSCHE 968 RELATED DISCUSSIONS (https://968forums.com/forum/non-porsche-968-related-discussions)
+--- Thread: Speaking of traffic management... (/speaking-of-traffic-management.html)
+- 968Forums.com (https://968forums.com/forum)
+-- Forum: THE 968 FORUMS PUB (https://968forums.com/forum/the-968-forums-pub)
+--- Forum: NON PORSCHE 968 RELATED DISCUSSIONS (https://968forums.com/forum/non-porsche-968-related-discussions)
+--- Thread: Speaking of traffic management... (/speaking-of-traffic-management.html)
Speaking of traffic management... - rxter - 03-14-2008
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.
Speaking of traffic management... - flash - 03-14-2008
i never really noticed motion sensor lights before - where are these? maybe they aren't set correctly for the traffic speed? lol - maybe they need a camera there?
i grew up in the bay area - up there, the commuter lane had specific hours that it was a commuter lane - the rest of the time it was open - that made a lot of sense to me
the problem with commuter lanes is that there is not enough savings to justify it to most people - hence, they go largely unused - that view may well change with predictions of gas hitting 5 bucks a gallon by the end of the year
up and down the 405, i would have preferred to see a train, rather than commuter lanes
Speaking of traffic management... - S_Cal968 - 03-15-2008
The motion sensors are consider to be "smart" intersections because they can alter the light timing. I not sure if this is true, but I've noticed the green, yellow to red sequence is extended with heavy traffic, [perhaps to assure clearing the intersection?].
Sometimes you can fool the light controller by backing up which indicates that there's another car waiting.
re; HOV; I haven't heard too many folks that like them and it's a hefty fine [$278] if you forgot to put your blow-up doll in the passenger seat. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
I think if it was considered in Ventura or Santa Barbara Co's there would be a riot - our freeways have fewer lanes.
Speaking of traffic management... - rxter - 03-15-2008
Motion sensors are on the top of the light arch over intersections. Maybe its a San Diego thing. At least we don't have speed cameras like they do in Phoenix. Would ruin my commute <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Speaking of traffic management... - S_Cal968 - 03-15-2008
Most motion sensors are embedded in the street. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Speaking of traffic management... - rxter - 03-16-2008
[quote name='S_Cal968' post='49329' date='Mar 15 2008, 07:16 PM']Most motion sensors are embedded in the street. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />[/quote]
Yep - they are in the street as well. We also have them in the arches - likely cheaper than running the wires under the street. Some of the newer intersections have only the cameras and nothing under the street. When it is foggy they can't "see" you and the lights cycle at maximum length. I'll try to post a couple of pics.
Speaking of traffic management... - rxter - 03-18-2008
Here are the pics. The sensor is the little camera perched on the arch between the lights.
Oops - gotta go <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Speaking of traffic management... - gryphon - 03-18-2008
You know, of course, that it is felony to take pictures of cameras that a taking pictures of you. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Tom
Speaking of traffic management... - saxman - 03-19-2008
[quote name='rxter' post='49433' date='Mar 18 2008, 07:54 AM']Here are the pics. The sensor is the little camera perched on the arch between the lights.
Oops - gotta go <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
you sure those aren't the sensors used by the emergency services to trigger the lights...
Speaking of traffic management... - flash - 03-19-2008
that was always my understanding too
Speaking of traffic management... - sguy - 03-19-2008
Yes they do both: function to change lights when activiated by emergency vehicles and monitor traffic and change lights to fit the flow (even if it does not seem so all the time).
Cheers,
Speaking of traffic management... - rxter - 03-19-2008
[quote name='gryphon' post='49446' date='Mar 18 2008, 03:27 PM']You know, of course, that it is felony to take pictures of cameras that a taking pictures of you. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Tom[/quote]
haha - maybe a felony in AZ. I hear that in CA if you drive fast enough under the light while blinking your lights the camera can't get you - right...
You guys see the movie Minority Report...