Do they honestly think the traffic light will change faster if they repeatedly hit the button? I'm serious, I have been wondering why peeople do this.
2006-08-15 04:51:44 · 20 answers · asked by advicemom 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I think people push the button repeatedly because they're impatient, mostly. Some might push it repeatedly because, when the light doesn't change quickly enough for them, they suspect that the signal didn't go through the first time (must've been a faulty wire).
The Chicago Tribune just did a story on this very subject yesterday.
Turns out that in some cities walk buttons have been deactivated and, in fact, do nothing, as pedestrians have often suspected.
In Chicago, intersections that have the walk buttons are connected to the Illinois Department of Transportation's computerized traffic control system. If a pedestrian doesn't push the button, the walk signal may never illuminate, depending on traffic flow.
2006-08-15 05:10:30 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question, I have often wondered myself. I'm sure the "big they in the sky" have tested such human inclinations, but here is my reason for hitting the button at least once when approaching a crosswalk.
1. Some people are in such a muddle, they don't push the button because they are thinking about other things. I assess the person, and push the button, or not, depending on their demeanor.
2. It makes me feel like I have done something to further my plan to cross the street.
3. Many a time I have come to the crosswalk and a handicapped person is waiting and I push the button for both of us.
4. We all need assurances that some part of our life is working, and getting that light to change to "walk" is a triumph!
5. If I have ignored the button, for sure the light won't change; it will flash "wait" until traffic flow begins again and you have to wait for two stops of traffic UNTIL YOU PUSH THAT BUTTON! So there!
2006-08-15 12:17:57 · answer #2 · answered by Pinky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is something that you cant really explain, there is no one correct answer to this question. Honestly most people realize that no matter how many times you press the button, it wont change any sooner. I believe that ppl might do it for several reason...i.e. at the cross walk, late for work, hit the button in frustration, sort like something to do. Or lets say at the cross and there's this really cute looking girl/guy, hit the button to grab her attention, even though you know that the person before you has already pushed it...and the possibilities are endless...
2006-08-15 12:07:27 · answer #3 · answered by astroquack 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We're an impatient people and we want what we want right then and there, so we expect everything to fall to submission to us. But you're right, the light isn't going to change any faster because the time has been set by the traffic engineer and they would have to unscrew the box and change the timer
2006-08-15 12:04:43 · answer #4 · answered by TexasBoy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, because I did it this morning, I'll answer your question.
It made me feel better. I leaned on it, pushed it, leaned back, pushed it again - then smiled... Then I banged on it several times.
I can tell you that it doesn't make anything go faster. Which begs the question... WHY? It is perhaps a way of passing time. Elevator button pushers may do it because they are uncomfortable with the growing crowd waiting for the elevator.
For me, it was just passing time, trying to be annoying, and biding my time during my run/walk...
Hope that answers your question!
And... HEY! WERE YOU TALKING ABOUT ME? DID YOU SEE ME DO IT? OY!
2006-08-15 11:58:31 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Saffire♥ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it is true- The more the button is pressed, the sooner the light will change. As the button is pressed more the system will think that there are more people at the intersection and will temporarily change the light in order to help clear the intersection.
2006-08-15 11:57:10 · answer #6 · answered by Joe K 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Impatience. It is the same with elevator buttons. Nothing will change if the button is pressed once or twelve times.
2006-08-15 11:57:30 · answer #7 · answered by karen wonderful 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once saw a man tired of waiting in his car for the light to change. He actually got out of his car to press the "Walk" button.
That was just hilarious!
2006-08-15 11:56:50 · answer #8 · answered by Lyvy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
haha...i'm guilty of this...its just an impatience thing i guess. i would rather be standing there doing something (like pushing the button) instead of just standing there getting irritated since the light is taking forever.
2006-08-15 11:56:49 · answer #9 · answered by ♥love2havefun♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ha! Same thing goes with impatient people on elevators, I guess they were worried the first 84 times didn't work...
2006-08-15 12:01:15 · answer #10 · answered by catkinso3201 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋