# Do you know how traffic lights work... **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [September 14, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475 "2006-09-14T12:52:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JEG](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeg/32/7246_2.png) [@JEG](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JEG)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/21 "2006-09-14T17:07:35Z")
Sheridan and Main SUCKS! Redconquesttsi and I were at that light for like 15 min…the fucker wouldnt change, so we went into the other lane and sure enough, here comes our green light…damn fucked up sensors. ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/22 "2006-09-14T17:08:25Z")
> [@OfficerK](#): > > Most signals do not have sensors on them to see gaps… > > They are set to timers, depending on the time of day, amount of traffic yadayadayada > > back in my architecture days i took an urban planning class and they went thruogh and descriebd how the system works…and how much it costs to have a study done to see if an intersection needs more time, an arrow or whatever > > they also found that decreasing the amount of time a signal stayed actually increased traffic flow and made people happier. Instead of sitting around for 3 minutes (which seems like an eternity) they would have it at 2 mins or less maybe less cars went through per cycle but overall more traffic moved, and because people were moving forward regularly instead of just sitting and sitting they were happier word. just as i suspected. ---
**Author:** ![RedGoober4Life](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redgoober4life/32/7610_2.png) [@RedGoober4Life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RedGoober4Life)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/23 "2006-09-14T17:18:18Z")
> [@JEG](#): > > Sheridan and Main SUCKS! Redconquesttsi and I were at that light for like 15 min…the fucker wouldnt change, so we went into the other lane and sure enough, here comes our green light…damn fucked up sensors. Where does Sheridan cross Main? ---
**Author:** ![newman](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/newman/32/7569_2.png) [@newman](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/newman)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/24 "2006-09-14T17:20:16Z")
that’s why it’s such a pain to get through. ---
**Author:** ![87FOXGT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/8/ecd19e/32.png) [@87FOXGT](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/87FOXGT)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:26pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/25 "2006-09-14T17:26:00Z")
this is why its important to have a siq fbody that can go from a dig. so you can get through these lights and fill the gap quickly. :allthatisman: ---
**Author:** ![LiveRound](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4491bb/32.png) [@LiveRound](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LiveRound)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/26 "2006-09-14T17:38:40Z")
i always thought red lights were opional? :shrug: ---
**Author:** ![Ovrwrkd](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ovrwrkd/32/7586_2.png) [@Ovrwrkd](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Ovrwrkd)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/27 "2006-09-14T18:09:53Z")
> [@RedGoober4Life](#): > > Where does Sheridan cross Main? They don’t exactly “cross”. Sherdian actually angles into and ends at Main St. out in Clarence. The biggest problem I’ve seen with traffics signals is people not paying attention. They want to make a quick phone call, or text someone real quick. They divert their attention form the most important thing when they’re behind the wheel of their car: the road around them! ---
**Author:** ![JayS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jays/32/15375_2.png) [@JayS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JayS)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 6:32pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/28 "2006-09-14T18:32:47Z")
> [@OfficerK](#): > > Most signals do not have sensors on them to see gaps… > > They are set to timers, depending on the time of day, amount of traffic yadayadayada Have you ever even watched the traffic in WNY? Go sit at Youngs and Sheridan and watch how the turn lane works. Or Transit turning onto Maple. I can guarantee those lights are detecting a gap in traffic, because as soon as there is a gap the the light turns yellow. It doesn’t matter if 10 cars have gone through, or 2 cars. I know this because I’ve been through those lights 1000’s of times. Same with Sheridan and NFB. ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/29 "2006-09-14T20:18:09Z")
belive urban planners\>you, and I was talking to people at work and almost all lights are timed, depending on various variables. ---
**Author:** ![vq30de](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9dc877/32.png) [@vq30de](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vq30de)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/30 "2006-09-14T20:19:57Z")
Yeah. Im pretty sure the sensor stuff is an urban legend. Im fairly sure theyre on a timer… ---
**Author:** ![redrum](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redrum/32/7398_2.png) [@redrum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/redrum)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/31 "2006-09-14T20:35:42Z")
ahh no. some lights are on timers, like those on equally busy streets, but nearly all lights that involve one busy street, and a quiet side street, or turning lanes, use sensors. otherwise the busy street would constantly be stopped for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![BaD\_AZz\_Z\_28](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@BaD\_AZz\_Z\_28](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/BaD_AZz_Z_28)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:36pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/32 "2006-09-14T20:36:23Z")
> [@jhenty](#): > > buffalo, IMO has some of the worst drivers i’ve ever seen, period. unfortunately, you’d be surprised how good we have it here. try driving though pittsburgh, or new york, or washington, or florida, or any southern state having bad weather, or … you get the idea > [@87FOXGT](#): > > this is why its important to have a siq fbody that can go from a dig. so you can get through these lights and fill the gap quickly. :allthatisman: you figured me out, i just hate traffic ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/blue_eyed_devil/32/7292_2.png) [@Blue\_Eyed\_Devil](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Blue_Eyed_Devil)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/33 "2006-09-14T20:44:13Z")
Some cities actually monitor traffic by camera and control lights accordingly. I don’t think Buffalo has enough traffic for this though. I have travelled the entire country, drivers suck everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/34 "2006-09-14T21:02:35Z")
Ive noticed in greece, they have these black strips they lay down to measure traffic flow on certain streets. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/35 "2006-09-14T21:18:07Z")
Most of the lights on the major streets use sensors for the turn lanes. You can even see where they cut to place the coil to pick up cars. It essentally works like a giant metal detector to determine which lights are switched. After that it’s impossible to really tell what methods they use. Most are usually timed after the initial trigger point. ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 11:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/36 "2006-09-14T23:00:32Z")
there are deff somekind of sensors…ever ride your motorcycle and sit at a red light for ever cuz it doesnt pick you up"? ---
**Author:** ![\_Karu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/_karu/32/7602_2.png) [@\_Karu](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/_Karu)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/37 "2006-09-14T23:13:03Z")
you guys should go to indonesia’s capital, Jakarta… yellow light means, “go faster!” ---
**Author:** ![ChevyChase](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/chevychase/32/4952_2.png) [@ChevyChase](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ChevyChase)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2006, 11:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/38 "2006-09-14T23:23:44Z")
Maple and millard suburban is just horrible you sit there for 5 minutes… Whats with the strobe light on some red lights… example coming over the overpass towards the ghonerria mall on walden? ---
**Author:** ![redrum](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/redrum/32/7398_2.png) [@redrum](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/redrum)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/39 "2006-09-15T04:26:09Z")
they are to make the red light more visible such as after a hill in the road, or on a road that has a higher speed limit and hasnt had a light on it for a long distance. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2006, 5:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475/40 "2006-09-15T05:34:32Z")
> [@ChevyChase](#): > > Maple and millard suburban is just horrible you sit there for 5 minutes… Whats with the strobe light on some red lights… example coming over the overpass towards the ghonerria mall on walden? Usually they are placed if there is an abundance of people not noticing a light at an intersection causing accidents. In this case two lights close together right over the top of an overpass. Usually it’s because someone or “several someones” have died there. [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/do-you-know-how-traffic-lights-work/17475.md?page=3)