How do traffic lights work? Sensors, timing, connection with other traffic lights … the whole shebang.
In: Technology
Telling this from the perspective of dutch traffic lights (or traffic coördination installations (TCI).
We’ve got pre-programmed and detection systems. Both kinds have detector-loops in the roadconstruction and where pedestrians and cyclists use the intersection pushbuttons for them. The difference is in the way the loops are used.
In the pre-programmed TCI the loops are used to determine if a green light sequence can be skipped for a direction, because there isn’t any traffic waiting to enter. These intersections can also be programmed to skip pedestrians and cyclists until they push the button indicating they want to cross.
The TCI’s with a detection system have loops reaching out of the intersection to detect if somebody is comming. Depending on what the TCI/intersection owner wants, this system can have loops for cyclists and detectionsystems for pedestrians added, replacing or aiding the pushbutton.
I’ve also heard about some TCI’s having weathersensors added so pedestrians and cyclists get their turns faster when it’s cold or rains. Thought behind this is that a car/truck-driver can wait a couple of second longer in their warm and dry vehicle while the others get to a warm and dry place faster.
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