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Come Inside... => Petrol/Diesel/Red Diesel/Aviation Fuel Head Zone => Topic started by: GROWLER on April 19, 2013, 10:39:23 PM

Title: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 19, 2013, 10:39:23 PM
Pretty sure I'll have had a snarl about this in the dark and distant past, but make no apology IF I am repeating myself. cussing:

WHY, please WHY TF do they change to red as you approach them on a main rioad, when absolutely FA is waiting to come out of the junction?
You can see them on green, hundreds of yards before, but as soon as you get within 20 yds....RED! Angry9:
There you'll normally remain until a car approaches the opposing junction, and then it'll do the same to them. Shrugs:

My suspicion is a government backed ploy to make us use and waste more fuel to swell their coffers, oh, and of course, just to piss us all right off too, naturally. evil:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 04:24:49 AM
Madness...  noooo:

I remember ooooh, it must be more than forty years ago it is now...

My owld dad used to start werk very early (5am) and sometimes took me with him on skool holidays...

I clearly remember how the lights used to change to GREEN as we approached them as there was literally no other traffic on the road... Why can't they do that now...?

Or have the amber flashing lights on all four ways...?
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Baldy on April 20, 2013, 06:07:46 AM
In the UK try flashing your lights a few times as you are approaching. They have sensors that pick up the blues & twos of emergency vehicles to try and give them a 'green wave' through the lights.

Do not get caught doing this as I believe it is now an offence.
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 06:28:08 AM
JOM will explain everything... Popcorn:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 06:59:05 AM
JOM will explain everything... Popcorn:

He friggin' needs to too, as I'm getting increasingly more and more pissed RIGHT off with this now.....and I'm not alone. Banghead

Aren't you gettin' mixed up with temp. lights with the sensors Bald get? rubschin:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 20, 2013, 07:12:22 AM
I get pissed off with it too Growler, but it's not my fault  angel1

Years ago, trafic lights use to work on vehicle actuation (V.A) so as a vehicle use to hit the pressure pad or activated the infra-red sensor, the lights would change to your advantage. These days lights are generally on fixed time, and there are other variations of this.

The emergency services thing is called preemption, and it can be activated by the vehicle, or in some areas it can be done by the control room. I think Plymouth were the forerunners of this where as soon as the fire service knew where an incident was, they literally hit a button and it would map the route to the incident and it would would give a "green wave" to the vehicle so they could get to the scene unhindered. It only hit the headlines when either the mayor or leader of the council used their "power" and had it set so they could go to their daughters wedding unhindered  noooo:

For temporary traffic lights (TTL's), these can be set to VA or fixed time, but you must have written permission from the council to have them on V.A
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 07:25:12 AM
I get pissed off with it too Growler, but it's not my fault  angel1

Years ago, trafic lights use to work on vehicle actuation (V.A) so as a vehicle use to hit the pressure pad or activated the infra-red sensor, the lights would change to your advantage. These days lights are generally on fixed time, and there are other variations of this.

The emergency services thing is called preemption, and it can be activated by the vehicle, or in some areas it can be done by the control room. I think Plymouth were the forerunners of this where as soon as the fire service knew where an incident was, they literally hit a button and it would map the route to the incident and it would would give a "green wave" to the vehicle so they could get to the scene unhindered. It only hit the headlines when either the mayor or leader of the council used their "power" and had it set so they could go to their daughters wedding unhindered  noooo:

For temporary traffic lights (TTL's), these can be set to VA or fixed time, but you must have written permission from the council to have them on V.A

So why do so many change to red just before you reach them then ey, and you then have to sit there like a friggin' twat looking at the empty junction .
Happened 3 bastard times on me way to The Asda last night, and I really wanted to get out and do a 'John Cleese' one 'em...with a axe. eveilgrin:

It's nowt to do with timing. It's obviously summat to do with night time traffic flow,  Shrugs: sensing movement coming towards them and then inexplcably stopping you. Banghead

One set granted, do change back to green withing a couple of seconds, but that's the exception. Others have you sitting there until a car approaches from the other direction as already stated.
Absolute friggin' madness. Banghead

Don't you speak to these traffic light maintenance  gets JOM?

Do us a  :thumbsup: if you do ey matey.....
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 20, 2013, 07:35:08 AM
Traffic signal engineers are known by many (myself included) in the industry as performers of the dark arts. I've never yet met one that isn't "strange"... see also, bridge engineers
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Uncle Mort on April 20, 2013, 07:39:34 AM
It's more likely a case of your perception. Any green lights you pass through you don't give a second thought to but any red light, especially at night when there's little other traffic, you notice. The incidence of red and green is probably no different at night than during the day.
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 07:43:47 AM
Traffic signal engineers are known by many (myself included) in the industry as performers of the dark arts. I've never yet met one that isn't "strange"... see also, bridge engineers

Well tell the next one you see that THE GROWLER is on the case now, and will be taking the matter up with the highest of  authorities for some pdq and definitive answers unless I get a satisfactory answer.

Defo gorra 'bee in me fur' over this matter, and it needs sorting. evil:

Put it to them as i suggested in my op, that it's a directive from the shitesters in charge of us mere sheeples to drag more money out of us via fuel wastage (constant stopping and starting)

The fuel computer on my car can show zero to 57mpg on an extremely rare clear run to (always daytime) down to a miserable 43 mpg like last night.
I rest my bastard case that this is a conspiracy against us all. evil:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 20, 2013, 07:47:58 AM
What's your stance on placing central islands by bus stops (not the lay-by type) so that when the bus stops you can't get past it cos the blue arrow on the island says you can only go left of the island and the bus is in the way  Explode:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 07:51:56 AM
What's your stance on placing central islands by bus stops (not the lay-by type) so that when the bus stops you can't get past it cos the blue arrow on the island says you can only go left of the island and the bus is in the way  Explode:

Yea. We got one just down the road (A41) but as annoying as they can be, especially if you're in an hurry,  I CAN actually see a bit of logic behind them, i.e., creating a slightly safer dis-embarking  point for passengers, especially kiddywinkies.
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 07:54:56 AM
Cycle lanes!! Explode:

Wouldn't mind, but most of the designating white lines have worn away 'round here now. ::)
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 08:01:52 AM
Painting white lines THROUGH potholes..... and over road kill...as posted by you  sometime ago. lol:

I rang the road maintenance dept a couple of years ago about them painting an arrow straight through a mahoosive pothole that was bang on line for catching the unwary's o/s wheel/tyre. cussing:

The supervisor went out to have a look at it ::), and rang me back granted  eeek: to agree with me that it was indeed total madness.

Still took them 2 weeks to lob a bit of wet gravel in it though, and there it remained, with a grey gap in the white arrow until they eventually dug up a full 200 yds of pot hole ridden tarmac to do the job properly.
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 08:52:38 AM
I' mentioned during my last rant on this subject iirc, but there is one set of lights that controls a (granted) very busy junction entrance on the main road into Chester to a mahoosive garden center not far from here.
No problem with it at all, as this junction did claim many many lives over the years...mainly dodery owld blue rinses' who couldn't judge the high speeds on this busy dual carriageway.

However, the garden center closes at 7pm, and the gates are shut, so no traffic going in or out.

You approach them late at night when the road is very quiet, and the bastards ALWAYS change to red as you approach them, and remain on red until you've stopped.

I may have 'accidentally' driven through these without slowing down on one or two occasions. redface:

tackled Cheshire West Highways maintenance, and the email back claimed it was for 'traffic flow purposes'.

Have you actually EVER heard of so much of a shite excuse in yer entire life ey, have you? Shrugs:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Snoopy on April 20, 2013, 09:03:31 AM
If you lived in Cologne you would find that their traffic lights are many but if you follow the exact speeds shown on the overhead gantries you will drive through every set of lights on green. This does of course mean changing your speed frequently but it is a system that works. Traffic flow control at its very best.
Pity we can't seem to learn from "Best Practice" even if it is German.
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 09:12:39 AM
If you lived in Cologne you would find that their traffic lights are many but if you follow the exact speeds shown on the overhead gantries you will drive through every set of lights on green. This does of course mean changing your speed frequently but it is a system that works. Traffic flow control at its very best.
Pity we can't seem to learn from "Best Practice" even if it is German.

Indeed.
This is why I'm so highly suspicious about the suspected ulterior motives behind the thinking of this crazy system we adopt in this country. rubschin:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 09:51:27 AM
If you lived in Cologne you would find that their traffic lights are many but if you follow the exact speeds shown on the overhead gantries you will drive through every set of lights on green. This does of course mean changing your speed frequently but it is a system that works. Traffic flow control at its very best.
Pity we can't seem to learn from "Best Practice" even if it is German.

They used to have that on the A4 going into Slough from Maidenhead - The Slough Experiment the sign proudly proclaimed....

They changed it some time back so it is just a string (23 sets if I remember correctly) of random lights now...  Banghead

I can't help but think they would have been better off experimenting on Slough with high explosives like that John Beancan said...  whistle:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 20, 2013, 10:40:42 AM
I' mentioned during my last rant on this subject iirc, but there is one set of lights that controls a (granted) very busy junction entrance on the main road into Chester to a mahoosive garden center not far from here.
No problem with it at all, as this junction did claim many many lives over the years...mainly dodery owld blue rinses' who couldn't judge the high speeds on this busy dual carriageway.

However, the garden center closes at 7pm, and the gates are shut, so no traffic going in or out.

You approach them late at night when the road is very quiet, and the bastards ALWAYS change to red as you approach them, and remain on red until you've stopped.

I may have 'accidentally' driven through these without slowing down on one or two occasions. redface:

tackled Cheshire West Highways maintenance, and the email back claimed it was for 'traffic flow purposes'.

Have you actually EVER heard of so much of a shite excuse in yer entire life ey, have you? Shrugs:


 Banghead  They have them elsewhere where large business premises are, just for peak times


(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs13.postimg.org%2Fd2c409woz%2Fpart_time_signals.jpg&hash=805a82a693386eeabbc53129f6530a15f14ee42c) (http://postimg.org/image/d2c409woz/)
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 01:57:03 PM
Yes. PEAK time lights. Great idea imo. :thumbsup:

So why oh why are this rancid council intent on wasting leccy on a set of lights that aren't actually controlling traffic at night time...at all, 'cus the bloody garden center is closed ffs? Shrugs:

No, they are merely there to piss everybody off and to waste fuel, and I'm absolutely certain of that. cussing:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 02:13:47 PM
Yes. PEAK time lights. Great idea imo. :thumbsup:

So why oh why are this rancid council intent on wasting leccy on a set of lights that aren't actually controlling traffic at night time...at all, 'cus the bloody garden center is closed ffs? Shrugs:

No, they are merely there to piss everybody off and to waste fuel, and I'm absolutely certain of that. cussing:

Shrugs:

When we were in Maidenhead the council decided to fit traffic lights at a (perfectly functional) roundabout for reasons that nobody could understand...

Needless to say, there were weeks of work, miles of cables, god knows how many sets of lights... everybody said it would be a disaster...

Sure enough, the day they switched it on the whole town ground to a halt... one of the entrances to the roundabout was a car park - people were stuck inside for EIGHT FUCKING HOURS!

Needless to say, they were switched off... ::)

BUT did any heads roll? Was anybody held accountable? Did the taxpayers get their hundreds of thousands of Pounds back?   rubschin:

Reader, they did not...  noooo:

And this happens all over the country....
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2013, 02:19:13 PM
I blame JOM  noooo:

Oh and

Keyboard Cat Plays Off The Pope! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4DKb6N0v5M#)
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 02:21:54 PM
doh:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 02:24:52 PM
I blame JOM  noooo:

Oh and


OI YOU!!

Take yerself and that vile festering heap of snot and shit machine OUT of my thread you turd faced cretin. Angry9:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2013, 02:26:45 PM
 Shrugs:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 20, 2013, 02:29:13 PM
Shrugs:

Dy'a know summat. evil:

I gain most satisfaction in being in here............ when i see THAT YOU AREN'T LOGGED ON!  cloud9:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 02:29:54 PM
I name Quorn boy...  noooo:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: apc2010 on April 20, 2013, 02:33:54 PM
I name Quorn boy...  noooo:

your name is wot..... rubschin:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 02:38:42 PM
I name Quorn boy...  noooo:

your name is wot..... rubschin:

Blame! doh:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: apc2010 on April 20, 2013, 02:39:46 PM
I name Quorn boy...  noooo:

your name is wot..... rubschin:

Blame! doh:

That home-brew must be good..... rubschin:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 02:41:48 PM
I name Quorn boy...  noooo:

your name is wot..... rubschin:

Blame! doh:

That home-brew must be good..... rubschin:

Lidl collapso and using my tablet....  redface:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 20, 2013, 05:44:21 PM
I blame JOM  noooo:

Oh and

Keyboard Cat Plays Off The Pope! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4DKb6N0v5M#)


(https://www.virtual-pub.com/SMF/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.org%2Fn2lo0cxf1%2Fpub_cat_20.jpg&hash=f80558e7105a37e32a1cbf352b190054d6c07c89) (http://postimg.org/image/n2lo0cxf1/)
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2013, 05:48:46 PM
 sad32:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Tipsy Gipsy on April 20, 2013, 05:49:32 PM
 point:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2013, 05:52:12 PM
Tipsy is an cruel wumman and also in denial  noooo:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Tipsy Gipsy on April 20, 2013, 05:53:56 PM
Never been anywhere near Egypt.   angel1
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Nick on April 20, 2013, 06:03:00 PM
Aaaahh bless. Mind you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Barman on April 20, 2013, 06:37:29 PM
Never been anywhere near Egypt.   angel1

 drumroll:

 lol: lol: lol:
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Baldy on April 20, 2013, 08:03:10 PM
Growler give the flashing lights a try (JOM might not want to let on), the father-in-law of my business partner in the UK had a lot to do with traffic lights and it always worked for me.  :thumbsup:

Again.....do not get caught doing it!!!!
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Snoopy on April 21, 2013, 08:19:00 AM
Related subject:

Outside the Kennels is a large triangular sign advising of a crossing ~ specifically featuring Elderly People. It is illuminated at night and the b@st@rd light shines straight into the master bedroom. A similar sign is placed 100 yards up the road for traffic coming in the opposite direction. It too shines all night into someone's bedroom.
(i) There is no crossing
(ii) The County Council say it is to warn traffic of the possibility of people crossing the road to get to the local surgery
(iii) The surgery closes at 5.30 pm and reopens at 8.30am on weekdays only.
(iv) In answer to the question "Why does this sign need to be illuminated?" the council's response was "If it was not lit then drivers would ignore it"
 Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead Banghead
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Steve on April 21, 2013, 09:54:18 AM
That's so unfair Snoopy, there could be a CDB celebrity in them there olduns and the council goes and cuts the chance of a late night splattering

Back t'topic I encountered roadwork red lights matching Growler's description of timing Friday and I was in such a foul mood I just said fck em and drove through. 
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Just One More on April 21, 2013, 10:04:26 AM
That's so unfair Snoopy, there could be a CDB celebrity in them there olduns and the council goes and cuts the chance of a late night splattering

Back t'topic I encountered roadwork red lights matching Growler's description of timing Friday and I was in such a foul mood I just said fck em and drove through.

Ooh, they might be the ones that have CCTV cameras built into them... see also Stop/Go boards
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: Steve on April 21, 2013, 10:22:16 AM
That's so unfair Snoopy, there could be a CDB celebrity in them there olduns and the council goes and cuts the chance of a late night splattering

Back t'topic I encountered roadwork red lights matching Growler's description of timing Friday and I was in such a foul mood I just said fck em and drove through.

Ooh, they might be the ones that have CCTV cameras built into them... see also Stop/Go boards
I did wonder about that but stuff them

I'd prolly plead not guilty just to get my chance to say.  How the flying truck do you get idiots able to set up a CCTV camera perfectly and yet point the car detector towards the planet Zob. 

(well in my dreams I would)
Title: Re: Traffic lights at night
Post by: GROWLER on April 21, 2013, 02:54:56 PM
Growler give the flashing lights a try (JOM might not want to let on), the father-in-law of my business partner in the UK had a lot to do with traffic lights and it always worked for me.  :thumbsup:

Again.....do not get caught doing it!!!!

I'm pretty sure it only works at temporary..... 'road no works, just loads'o cones and men in HV jackets drinking tea and looking at yesterdayas faded copy of The Sun, feet on scabby Transit'.... lights.

I'll certainly give it a try though. Thumbs: