Turn red lights to green?

Bluefront

Golden Member
Apr 20, 2002
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Couldn't believe it when I heard it on the radio today. Apparently some company is selling an RF device, similar to the type emergency vehicles use, which allows the user to for instance change a red light to green. Also it's use is legal in most states.....Anybody heard about this? Links?
 

Kevin

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2002
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I always thought they should put sensors into traffic signals. That way when there's a major road an intersection of a main road that no one uses, the light stays green until a car is waiting to pass. Its so practical and would alleviate most traffic problems and congestion that it would NEVER happen... ;)
 

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
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Originally posted by: kevin000
I always thought they should put sensors into traffic signals. That way when there's a major road an intersection of a main road that no one uses, the light stays green until a car is waiting to pass. Its so practical and would alleviate most traffic problems and congestion that it would NEVER happen... ;)

They already do that for many intersections. They use pressure lines buried in the asphalt.

amish
 

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
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They already do that for many intersections. They use pressure lines buried in the asphalt.
I thought that it used the fields generated by the cars electrical system. I mean, my motorcycle will trip the lights and it's only 400 lbs. But the 914 won't unless I pull far forward and put the engine over the sensor area (mid-engined).

ZV
 

PaNsyBoy8

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2001
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Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
They already do that for many intersections. They use pressure lines buried in the asphalt.
I thought that it used the fields generated by the cars electrical system. I mean, my motorcycle will trip the lights and it's only 400 lbs. But the 914 won't unless I pull far forward and put the engine over the sensor area (mid-engined).

ZV

I think ur right, it should be the same as the ones you find in garages, but i think its not the car's electrical system, i thinkg it produces a magnetic field, and it detects any interference, that's why you can open a gargae door with a piece of metal.
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
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I believe there are both kinds. I don't think it would be hard to bury a strain gage and use it to trip the light above a certain weight.
 

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
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i don't think you guys understand how they work. They are more commonly sold in Australia, where it works with their traffic light system. If ambulances needed them here, why would they bother turning on their lights and siren to blow through a light?

-=bmacd=-
 

Mani

Diamond Member
Aug 9, 2001
4,808
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Originally posted by: Bluefront
Couldn't believe it when I heard it on the radio today. Apparently some company is selling an RF device, similar to the type emergency vehicles use, which allows the user to for instance change a red light to green. Also it's use is legal in most states.....Anybody heard about this? Links?

More specifically, where can I buy one? :)
 

tweakmm

Lifer
May 28, 2001
18,436
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I know for some lights around here you can flash your brights at them a couple times and they will change
 

richardycc

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: Mani
Originally posted by: Bluefront
Couldn't believe it when I heard it on the radio today. Apparently some company is selling an RF device, similar to the type emergency vehicles use, which allows the user to for instance change a red light to green. Also it's use is legal in most states.....Anybody heard about this? Links?

More specifically, where can I buy one? :)


why buy one? just flash your high beam on and off really fast to mimic the strobe light. It only works less than 1/2 of the time thou. ;)

rich
 

ReiAyanami

Diamond Member
Sep 24, 2002
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dont think u could buy one... legally. so u'll just have to build your own, and overclock it
 

Bluefront

Golden Member
Apr 20, 2002
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From what I heard, these devices were being sold now, and were not illegal in most states. I thought it was an RF device....maybe it's a strobe. Could come in handy....heh. Didn't catch the the name of the outfit selling them.....
 

PsychoAndy

Lifer
Dec 31, 2000
10,735
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I've heard of systems like this, and i'm pretty sure it's been around for a while, except it was for emergency use only (EMS, fire, etc). Only problem is that you'd have to put the system on a crapload of traffic lights for it to work effectively, or at the very least main roads. It wouldn't work everywhere, since most traffic lights in the country probably don't have an RF reciever for a system like this. Not to mention a really bored EE or something could make an RF device, assuming he/she/it knew the frequency, etc.

As for the legality, I doubt it would be illegal. I mean, think about the mechanics. Push a button, other light turns red, your light turns green. It would be just like a regular traffic cycle, although time between light change would be drasically shortened. You could potentially cause an accident with it, but even so, how would they catch you?
 

no0b

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2001
3,804
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I read an article about it and actually found out that its infa-red. And you can get the units for about $700 at some online places. Also its not-illegal... ...yet (in Illionis).
 

In my state (CT),The emergency vehicles use a strobe light to signal the lights to change.
There is a problem though,In my town (Population 50,000) there are only 4 lights with these recievers on them.
 

KthxBye

Senior member
Aug 7, 2001
404
0
71
Ok, I'm here to explain it all. EMS, firefighters, and police can change stoplights through a technology called Opticom that was developed by 3M. Basicly, the car has a strobe on it that emits light in one of two frequencies. 10Hz for low priority, and 14Hz for high. Traffic lights (most of them anyways) have sensors which pick up the light and change accordingly. Here is a site of some guy who tried make one (most of this info comes from him), and HERE is a site that sells them. (but only to government agencies)
 

kherman

Golden Member
Jul 21, 2002
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This is cool and everything, but won;t this just turn all the lights red atthe intersection?