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1.  

   This isn't new... or is it?

   

   August Jackson, Apr 7th, 2004 @ 4:37pm

   
   

   There are actually two traffic lights (of which I know) in Herndon, Virginia that are announced by signs that tell drivers that the traffic light they are approaching will turn red if they are speeding. I've never been too convinced of the truth behind these signs, because whether or not they turn red or green seems completely arbitrary to me. I've slowed down to below the speed limit only to be stopped-- even when I'm the only car in the vicinity. I've also flown right by at speeds five to ten miles per hour above the speed limit and had the light remain green.
   
   But, yeah, if alll you've got to do is to wait at a light rather than get a ticket I would say you've got nothing about which to complain. In our nation's capital you get a ticket, eh. If nothing else you would know that there's no point in hurrying and you'll go faster if you mantain the speed limit.

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2.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Apr 7th, 2004 @ 7:55pm

   
   

   I can think of two possible next steps.
   
   1) A light-running cmaera will be connected to the light Wham! instant $$$$.
   
   2) Some engineer in the Valley will figure out how to blind the camera to neutralize the light and the cold war will begin.

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3.  

   Not just the speeder

   

   bob, Apr 8th, 2004 @ 5:14am

   
   

   While it seems reasonable that a speeder should pay the small penalty of an extra red light, what about anybody else on the road at the same time? Why should they encounter a red light that would have been green except for the behavior of another driver? It's like we're back in gym class when everyone had to run laps because the class clown did something that irritated the coach.

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4.  

   Re: Not just the speeder

   

   August Jackson, Apr 8th, 2004 @ 6:13am

   
   

   Not an invalid point, but the other drivers DO benefit from an overalll improvement in safety on that road.

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5.  

   No Subject Given

   

   Anonymous Coward, Apr 8th, 2004 @ 6:53am

   
   

   now you've gone and turned a simple speeder and are turning forcing him into running red lights..
   
   could we perhapse raise the speed limit?
   nooo that would never work

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6.  

   I wonder about how this can scale up

   

   mgallagher, Apr 8th, 2004 @ 6:57am

   
   

   One of the big advantages to interconnected signal systems is to do signal coordination along heavily traveled corridors. I even helped design a system that would detect certain traffic-affecting factors and cause a series of signals to re-time themselves to accomodate road blockages.
   
   I curious about how having an individual signal break its coordinated timing plan to slow down a speeder would affect the overall efficiency of the corridor (Level of Service in traffic engineering speak). It is a neat idea, but I wonder about the unintended consequences. Urban signal systems can be surprisingly complex.

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7.  

   Re: I wonder about how this can scale up

   

   slim, Apr 8th, 2004 @ 7:55am

   
   

   Uh ... dood ... the "unintended consequence" is that this light will NEVER TURN GREEN AGAIN.

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