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sure, 10% of them are busy enough to need to be in full service, but not at night, or on sundays. many places DO put them on flash on weekends so obviously it can be done. It would save the country countless billions of $ and wasted fuel and man hours every year. they already know which way is the (much) higher flow of traffic. that way gets the yellow light, the other, lower traffic direction gets the red light flashing. That's enough to establish who has right of way, alert people that there's an intersection, etc
If they all flashed they would be unnecessary since stop signs would do the same thing. Surely you've been at an intersection and seen what happens when the light is out or flashing. You can't possibly think that's a good idea.
sure, 10% of them are busy enough to need to be in full service, but not at night, or on sundays. many places DO put them on flash on weekends so obviously it can be done. It would save the country countless billions of $ and wasted fuel and man hours every year. they already know which way is the (much) higher flow of traffic. that way gets the yellow light, the other, lower traffic direction gets the red light flashing. That's enough to establish who has right of way, alert people that there's an intersection, etc
It's because people in general can be stupid and self-absorbed. They need the clues from the traffic lights to tell them how to act. I wonder how many people out there even know the proper protocol when sitting at a three or four way stop?
I live in an area where the population swells to roughly double it's normal size in the summer months. It's a shoreline town where there are 2 options for traveling, Route 1 or I-95. When 95 gets backed up (which is pretty much all the time during the summer) half the travelers bail onto Rte 1 (because nobody else would dream of doing that ) This results in bumper to bumper traffic that can stretch through several towns. Now you would think that because people are traveling from stoplight to stoplight at about 20 mph, it wouldn't be a big deal to have somebody let you in front of them when trying to ease into the stream from a side street or driveway.....Right? Wrong - most people treat their space in that line of traffic like it's the line to the Pearly Gates and they will soon fill up and close the door.
It seems like there's a certain competitiveness that overcomes people when it comes to driving. I've seen the most innocuous people scream like homicidal maniacs when somebody tries to "cut" them out of their space in the traffic line. Everybody's in a hurry........for what? Beats me. But if you want to see anarchy in action, change all the traffic lights to flashing yellow and pull up a chair.
Stopping and reaccelerating is the difference in highway fuel economy and city fuel economy. Unnecessary stops are a huge consumer of fuel (and producer of greenhouse gas). It also wears out other parts of the car such as brake pads.
If they all flashed they would be unnecessary since stop signs would do the same thing. Surely you've been at an intersection and seen what happens when the light is out or flashing. You can't possibly think that's a good idea.
Garvan is suggesting that signals should flash during non rush-hours. At no point does the OP propose removing the traffic signals completely and putting up stop signs.
Stopping and reaccelerating is the difference in highway fuel economy and city fuel economy. Unnecessary stops are a huge consumer of fuel (and producer of greenhouse gas). It also wears out other parts of the car such as brake pads.
Ah if one is driving you can't see down the crossing intersection in time therefore there needs to be an stop sign or an signal or something to prevent an crash.
Many Intersection are now controlled, Some at each light or some on a series of lights (or even the whole area). By Traffic sensing devices,
The Main road Stay Green until some "car" trips the sensor that start the cycle for a green in there direction. Then that one light, will turn red, to allow for cross traffic to go green. If many lights are connected together the programming will set all the lights to turn red that need to be. But in a programmed stagger pattern to allow best flow for the Main Road.
Also Many "Main" road are wide, and getting a safe break even in the middle of the night can be sometimes hard to get a gap in both directions.
Plus alot of driver are clueless about what to do with a flashing red/yellow light.
Can't see any power savings, cause the traffic signals are still on, just what color they glow, The Second or two of "Dark" during the flashing, will probably not save any power, as the restart power to re-light them uses "More" power then to just leave it solid on, and over all we are talking mili-amps of power both ways.
duh, because they can be easily put back into "normal" status, for rush hour, guys. You REALLY don't think that not having to stop (for the main routes) doesn't save money? flash one way red, the 90 degree angle (higher volume of traffic) flash YELLOW, in other words, no stopping if there's no other traffic. Unlike a stop sign. You know the kiind that they write you a $70 ticket for running?
guess you guys never been any place that does this? I've seen many where it is the SOP, on weekends, at least. One way has to stop, cause that's the lower traffic way. the other way gets yellow lights, does not need to stop, unless traffice is present. you know, yellow means "yield" to other traffic. Or did you not learn that.? if there's no other traffic, you just keep driving. Duh, how could that POSSIBLY save time and money, right? instead of waiting for 2 minutes, slowing and accelerating, every 200 yds.
duh, because they can be easily put back into "normal" status, for rush hour, guys. You REALLY don't think that not having to stop (for the main routes) doesn't save money? flash one way red, the 90 degree angle (higher volume of traffic) flash YELLOW, in other words, no stopping if there's no other traffic. Unlike a stop sign. You know the kiind that they write you a $70 ticket for running?
guess you guys never been any place that does this? I've seen many where it is the SOP, on weekends, at least. One way has to stop, cause that's the lower traffic way. the other way gets yellow lights, does not need to stop, unless traffice is present. you know, yellow means "yield" to other traffic. Or did you not learn that.? if there's no other traffic, you just keep driving. Duh, how could that POSSIBLY save time and money, right? instead of waiting for 2 minutes, slowing and accelerating, every 200 yds.
The problem is that you can not see down an crossing intersection at night(esp. at night) in the first place therefore you do not know there is no traffic. That is why when the stop light breaks you treat it as an 4 way stop sign. Any way car A sees the red comes to an stop does not see Car B who is further down the road and sees yellow esp. if there are any obstructions pulls out and bang T-bone.
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) This results in bumper to bumper traffic that can stretch through several towns. Now you would think that because people are traveling from stoplight to stoplight at about 20 mph, it wouldn't be a big deal to have somebody let you in front of them when trying to ease into the stream from a side street or driveway.....Right? Wrong - most people treat their space in that line of traffic like it's the line to the Pearly Gates and they will soon fill up and close the door.
