Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: 78bex on 30 August 2013, 23:44:44

Title: traffic light timings
Post by: 78bex on 30 August 2013, 23:44:44
Are there any national set limits for traffic lights to change from green to red  ???

Following another car today, I saw one 40 mph board, the road in front widened into seperate lanes with traffic lights in the distance. As we approached the traffic lights, the car in front safely passed thru on a green light. as he did so the light went to amber so I braked & came to swift halt as the light changed to red. The bloke behind wasn`t happy & I got verbals & the finger. The route I was travelling was unfamilar to me.  but that amber light was really short before it changed to red. I reviewed the timing on my dashcam footage it was just under 3 seconds from the start of amber to the red light. I`m no mathmetician but I was about 2 seconds behind the bloke in front. If I had continued then I would have passed thru the junction on a red towing a saxo. My speed was about 30 mph & the traffic wasn`t too heavy. How far was I from those lights when the amber came on? In other words how far did I travel in 2 seconds at a speed of  30mph. Or did I over-react to the lights changing.  ??? The old girl pulled up nice & square & the brakes feel strong following a complete change of the brake fluid.  :y
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: AndyRoid on 31 August 2013, 02:19:47
In other words how far did I travel in 2 seconds at a speed of  30mph.
Approx 88 feet (27 metres if you don't understand imperial).
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: albitz on 31 August 2013, 07:48:48
Some of the lights "down that London" barely go to green long enough to allow a single car through.
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 31 August 2013, 09:02:56
traffic light timings must be variable based on daily+hourly statistics.. and it really is a science..
 
however, mostly arranged with fix timings by incompetent workers :(
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 31 August 2013, 10:00:50
There are a couple of roads in Swindon that have cameras fitted before traffic lights junctions. If you  are going too fast, they change the lights to red on purpose. There are no signs to say what the cameras are for and its pretty obvious sometimes that some drivers dont realise that the lights will change to red on them!  ::)
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: Shackeng on 31 August 2013, 11:32:01
There are a couple of roads in Swindon that have cameras fitted before traffic lights junctions. If you  are going too fast, they change the lights to red on purpose. There are no signs to say what the cameras are for and its pretty obvious sometimes that some drivers dont realise that the lights will change to red on them!  ::)

Which ones are those? Not that I exceed the limit. ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: 05omegav6 on 31 August 2013, 12:08:38
Some of the lights "down that London" barely go to green long enough to allow a single car through.

Nothing to do with red light and box junction revenue then ::)
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 31 August 2013, 17:40:27
There are a couple of roads in Swindon that have cameras fitted before traffic lights junctions. If you  are going too fast, they change the lights to red on purpose. There are no signs to say what the cameras are for and its pretty obvious sometimes that some drivers dont realise that the lights will change to red on them!  ::)

Which ones are those? Not that I exceed the limit. ::) ::) ::)

One set in Queens drive as you approach the junction of Whitbourne Av......from Coate.

Another set on Thamesdown Drive as you approach the 1st Oakhurst entrance from Taw Hill  :y
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: Shackeng on 31 August 2013, 17:56:03
There are a couple of roads in Swindon that have cameras fitted before traffic lights junctions. If you  are going too fast, they change the lights to red on purpose. There are no signs to say what the cameras are for and its pretty obvious sometimes that some drivers dont realise that the lights will change to red on them!  ::)

Which ones are those? Not that I exceed the limit. ::) ::) ::)

One set in Queens drive as you approach the junction of Whitbourne Av......from Coate.

Another set on Thamesdown Drive as you approach the 1st Oakhurst entrance from Taw Hill  :y


I use Queen's Drive so I'll look for that one. :y :y :y
Title: Re: traffic light timings
Post by: 78bex on 31 August 2013, 18:37:20
In other words how far did I travel in 2 seconds at a speed of  30mph.
Approx 88 feet (27 metres if you don't understand imperial).

ok  :y so just looked-up the safe stopping distance in the dry @ 30 mph & it comes to  23 metres. So the 3 second amber light gives just enough time to brake & stop. But not enough time to react & stop at 40 mph (36 metres) & no chance to stop at 50 mph (53 metres).