Why do crosswalk lights often not sync with trafic lights?

[Locut0s]

Usually at busy intersections the crosswalk signs are always synced with the tragic lights. However at other intersections the crosswalk light will still show don't cross when the trafic lights indicate you can. Pressing the walk button doesn't help.

 

[speg]

You're doing it wrong.

 

[Leros]

I don't even bother with crosswalk likes for that reason.

 

[LtPage1]

Either they're broken, or you didn't press it early enough to register before the light changed.

 

[Locut0s]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Either they're broken, or you didn't press it early enough to register before the light changed.

No it's not pressing it at the wrong time because it happens all the time no matter when you press it. And it can't be that many that are broken.

 

[Itchrelief]

Originally posted by: Locut0s

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Either they're broken, or you didn't press it early enough to register before the light changed.

No it's not pressing it at the wrong time because it happens all the time no matter when you press it. And it can't be that many that are broken.

So you're saying the light never indicates "walk"? Or that if you press the button during a green that it will not turn to "walk" before the next green? Because the latter is very common, probably because the duration of the remaining green light may be shorter than the walk signal duration. The former is obviously your city is broke ass and can't fix their broken signals.

 

[guyver01]

Maybe there's another reason...

Maybe there's a turn signal light on the other side thats telling cars to turn into your path of travel, so the light wont tell you to WALK if you're gonna get hit by a car.
Once the turn signal light turns red, you get the WALK?

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Usually at busy intersections the crosswalk signs are always synced with the tragic lights.

That sounds like the title of some generic post-rock song

 

[OUCaptain]

Everyone knows they don't work unless you hit them 5 or 6 times. Just like elevators

 

[Fenixgoon]

wait, people pay attention to crosswalk lights?

<-- lives in philly, where pedestrians rule the streets

 

[theflyingpig]

You don't have to wait for the signal to tell you to cross. As a pedestrian, you always have the right of way; it is the responsibility of the driver to take notice of you. Just do what I do and cross whenever. The cars will stop. They have to. Everyone knows this.

 

[indamixx99]

Cause if you dont press the cross button, the green light can be much shorter - say when there's only 1 car that needs to go thru the intersection before turning yellow. Now if you pressed the button, the green light will stay on much longer just so you can walk across the street even though there are no cars that need to go thru the intersection. Hope that made sense...

 

[OUCaptain]

This isn't law in all states.

 

[ghostman]

In NYC, the lights are synchronized. In NJ, I find that they are almost guaranteed to be NOT synchronized.

Oddly enough, I've seen 3 or 4 car accidents while walking around a 10 block radius in NJ within the last 3 years. I've seen 3 or 4 car accidents walking around all of NYC during my entire lifetime.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: Locut0s
Usually at busy intersections the crosswalk signs are always synced with the tragic lights. However at other intersections the crosswalk light will still show don't cross when the trafic lights indicate you can. Pressing the walk button doesn't help.

green means go for a vehicle... not necessarily for a pedestrian.
many times pedestrian light shave a cycle where they can walk and all the lights are red.
other places, there is a limited green for turining cars before the pedestrian light turns to walk.


stop assuming green = walk

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: theflyingpig
You don't have to wait for the signal to tell you to cross. As a pedestrian, you always have the right of way; it is the responsibility of the driver to take notice of you. Just do what I do and cross whenever. The cars will stop. They have to. Everyone knows this.

(speaking from a NH perspective)

265:11 Pedestrian Control Signals. ? Whenever special pedestrian-control signals exhibiting the words ""Walk'' or ""Don't Walk'' are in place such signals shall indicate as follows:
I. Walk--Pedestrians facing such steady or flashing signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal and shall be given the right of way by the drivers of all vehicles. There shall be no right turn allowed for any vehicle while a steady or flashing walk signal is being displayed.
II. Don't Walk--No pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signals whether steady or flashing, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the ""Walk'' signal shall proceed to a sidewalk or safety island.


265:34 Pedestrians Subject to Traffic Signs and Regulations. ? A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any traffic sign or regulation specifically applicable to him, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic and pedestrian control signals as provided in RSA 265:9 unless required by local ordinance to comply strictly with such signals. At all other places, pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this chapter.


265:36 Crossing at Other Than Crosswalks. ?
I. Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
II. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.
III. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.
IV. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by traffic control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.

Anyway. You were saying?

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: JLee
Anyway. You were saying?

Whether or not the Pedestrian is legally in right or wrong, if they are in a vehicles path and the vehicle has the ability to stop or safely avoid it/you must do so. Doesn't matter that the Pedestrian can get a ticket for Jaywalking or other violations. So, it's pretty much as said above, the Pedestrians have the right of way. Don't like it, well, too bad.

/Unfortunately.
//Misses playing Carmageddon. :evil:
///I've never had problems with crosswalks operation / synchronizations, but, can't say I've been everywhere either.

 

[Gunbuster]

Your city must be beta testing the "tragic lights"