Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
diddleygo
()
Date: January 22, 2011 06:52PM
On many major roads in Fairfax County, lights randomly turn red on the major road as cars arrive on smaller side roads. The traffic light gives no consideration to the fact that several cars on the major road had just stopped at the previous traffic light.
The system lets through the first car to arrive at the intersection. That would be best only if there were only one intersection in existence or if cars never wanted to travel more that one light along a major road.
In reality many cars arriving from the smaller side roads become cars that want to travel a considerable distance on the major road. The best solution is not a simply idiot sensor at every traffic light.
Are there any plans to upgrade to intelligent traffic controls that will save fuel and travel time by not making cars stop for every light when traveling on major roads?
The system lets through the first car to arrive at the intersection. That would be best only if there were only one intersection in existence or if cars never wanted to travel more that one light along a major road.
In reality many cars arriving from the smaller side roads become cars that want to travel a considerable distance on the major road. The best solution is not a simply idiot sensor at every traffic light.
Are there any plans to upgrade to intelligent traffic controls that will save fuel and travel time by not making cars stop for every light when traveling on major roads?
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
VDOT
()
Date: January 22, 2011 07:05PM
No plans, sorry.
Your argument does make perfect sense, however.
Your argument does make perfect sense, however.
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
Maclay
()
Date: January 22, 2011 07:24PM
It really is an intelligent system and not all that random as you imply. The lights are timed. If there is no traffic on the main route for a given time period then an override kicks in and the secondary route will be given the green. If there is no traffic on the secondary route when the timed period has expired then the timer is reset. Though again there is a default when the secondary gets a green just in case someone has not tripped the sensor.
Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush hour, they really are a mess when it comes to timing.
Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush hour, they really are a mess when it comes to timing.
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
justsayin
()
Date: January 22, 2011 07:56PM
diddleygo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are there any plans to upgrade to intelligent
> traffic controls that will save fuel and travel
> time by not making cars stop for every light when
> traveling on major roads?
That takes a lot of money to modify in-place infrastructure. Do you have a revenue proposal to go with these plans you want?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are there any plans to upgrade to intelligent
> traffic controls that will save fuel and travel
> time by not making cars stop for every light when
> traveling on major roads?
That takes a lot of money to modify in-place infrastructure. Do you have a revenue proposal to go with these plans you want?
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
vdot
()
Date: January 22, 2011 08:31PM
Note the time of day when the side streets are given the green as soon as a car rolls up to the light. It's usually late night; I've called VDOT in the past to say a light was doing that on the side street (it's most annoying when you have to stop for a car that is turning right anyway) and they have responded by putting a delay on the side street's sensor. Not always, but they're always willing to look at it.
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
mmmmm
()
Date: January 22, 2011 10:01PM
I have wondered the same thing many times. It seems like a cheap and practical alternative is to have many lights flash after normal hours (after 8 PM for example)
Not only would it save a lot of fuel but a lot of aggravation as well.
Not only would it save a lot of fuel but a lot of aggravation as well.
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
Kardinal
()
Date: January 22, 2011 11:29PM
vdot Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Note the time of day when the side streets are
> given the green as soon as a car rolls up to the
> light. It's usually late night; I've called VDOT
> in the past to say a light was doing that on the
> side street (it's most annoying when you have to
> stop for a car that is turning right anyway) and
> they have responded by putting a delay on the side
> street's sensor. Not always, but they're always
> willing to look at it.
How do you contact them? Where do we report this sort of thing?
-------------------------------------------------------
> Note the time of day when the side streets are
> given the green as soon as a car rolls up to the
> light. It's usually late night; I've called VDOT
> in the past to say a light was doing that on the
> side street (it's most annoying when you have to
> stop for a car that is turning right anyway) and
> they have responded by putting a delay on the side
> street's sensor. Not always, but they're always
> willing to look at it.
How do you contact them? Where do we report this sort of thing?
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
ThePackLeader
()
Date: January 23, 2011 03:51AM
Maclay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It really is an intelligent system and not all
> that random as you imply. The lights are timed. If
> there is no traffic on the main route for a given
> time period then an override kicks in and the
> secondary route will be given the green. If there
> is no traffic on the secondary route when the
> timed period has expired then the timer is reset.
> Though again there is a default when the secondary
> gets a green just in case someone has not tripped
> the sensor.
>
> Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of
> lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush
> hour, they really are a mess when it comes to
> timing.
The light timing in FFX is complete shit.
==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).
-------------------------------------------------------
> It really is an intelligent system and not all
> that random as you imply. The lights are timed. If
> there is no traffic on the main route for a given
> time period then an override kicks in and the
> secondary route will be given the green. If there
> is no traffic on the secondary route when the
> timed period has expired then the timer is reset.
> Though again there is a default when the secondary
> gets a green just in case someone has not tripped
> the sensor.
>
> Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of
> lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush
> hour, they really are a mess when it comes to
> timing.
The light timing in FFX is complete shit.
==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
diddleygo
()
Date: January 23, 2011 11:51PM
Maybe it's not so random.
A bunch of cars stop at one light leaving a gap in traffic. After the bunch of cars are released and start approaching the next light, the next light decides no more cars are coming and stops the same bunch of cars . . . again . . . and so on . . . ARRRGGGHHH!!!
A bunch of cars stop at one light leaving a gap in traffic. After the bunch of cars are released and start approaching the next light, the next light decides no more cars are coming and stops the same bunch of cars . . . again . . . and so on . . . ARRRGGGHHH!!!
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
diddleygo
()
Date: January 24, 2011 01:05AM
In the D.C., Constitution Ave. between the Roosevelt bridge and 15th St, just past the White House is an example of a nicely synchronized set of traffic lights. The lights change in a traveling wave that cars can catch much of the time. Those waves of green lights have been the same for at least thirty years. There are no car sensors.
It's possible that only those who have seen synchronized lights work know when car sensors are making the traffic lights change randomly.
It's possible that only those who have seen synchronized lights work know when car sensors are making the traffic lights change randomly.
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
Zak
()
Date: January 24, 2011 11:45AM
Sounds like we are entering a discussion about the science of traffic analysis and traffic control.
You can read up on it via the Internets, but I think one of the major factors used for light control is the time of day.
During rush hour, forget it. The major roads get priority and each light cycle is extended so the lights can be synchronized. (aka GTFO/I DC)
You can read up on it via the Internets, but I think one of the major factors used for light control is the time of day.
During rush hour, forget it. The major roads get priority and each light cycle is extended so the lights can be synchronized. (aka GTFO/I DC)
Re: arrggghhh!! car sensors make traffic lights go randomly when traffic is light
Posted by:
Shadow
()
Date: January 24, 2011 06:14PM
Maclay Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It really is an intelligent system and not all
> that random as you imply. The lights are timed. If
> there is no traffic on the main route for a given
> time period then an override kicks in and the
> secondary route will be given the green. If there
> is no traffic on the secondary route when the
> timed period has expired then the timer is reset.
> Though again there is a default when the secondary
> gets a green just in case someone has not tripped
> the sensor.
>
> Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of
> lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush
> hour, they really are a mess when it comes to
> timing.
Actually, FAirfax USED to be good with the timing. But with transformers blowing out, new lights being installed, and accidents the timing now sucks pretty mucvh everywhere.
I drove down Old Keene Mill Road and managed to get a red light at 9 out of ten lights. THat's fucked. Didn't matter if I drove slow, fast or the speed limit.
Happens on Braddock, 236, ROlling, 50, 29, 7, really doesn't matter. The thousands of dollars they've spent to give us 'timed' lights was a total waste of money. VDOT doesn't keep up with the task.
-------------------------------------------------------
> It really is an intelligent system and not all
> that random as you imply. The lights are timed. If
> there is no traffic on the main route for a given
> time period then an override kicks in and the
> secondary route will be given the green. If there
> is no traffic on the secondary route when the
> timed period has expired then the timer is reset.
> Though again there is a default when the secondary
> gets a green just in case someone has not tripped
> the sensor.
>
> Fairfax County is pretty good about the timing of
> lights. Try driving through Alexandria during rush
> hour, they really are a mess when it comes to
> timing.
Actually, FAirfax USED to be good with the timing. But with transformers blowing out, new lights being installed, and accidents the timing now sucks pretty mucvh everywhere.
I drove down Old Keene Mill Road and managed to get a red light at 9 out of ten lights. THat's fucked. Didn't matter if I drove slow, fast or the speed limit.
Happens on Braddock, 236, ROlling, 50, 29, 7, really doesn't matter. The thousands of dollars they've spent to give us 'timed' lights was a total waste of money. VDOT doesn't keep up with the task.