I have always wanted to know this, but when you're first in front at a red stop light, it seems if you "bump up" forward it somehow goes ahead and makes the light turn green after waiting awhile for it to turn....as if the weight of your car on the street trips the light. I thought traffic lights were always timed, but the tripping thing always seems to at least work when I try it. Does anyone professional know?
2006-09-29 18:21:45 · 11 answers · asked by lefty 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The vast majority of traffic signals use sensors in the pavement. The sensor system is actually a giant metal detector, not a weight sensor.
With sensor systems it's very important that you pull up to but not past the stop line. If you roll past the stop line, the sensor may not register your car and the light will not change. Ditto if you stop too far back from the stop line.
2006-09-29 18:31:34 · answer #1 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No . You cannot "trip" the light by moving forward,
The circles in the pavement do not feel the weight of your vehicle.
They sense the metal in your vehicle, by an electro-inductive interrupt.
As thus: The circle in the road is an electro-magnetic coil, It puts out a signal, which is returned by the metal in your car. Thus, the coil knows that there is a car there. Once the signal knows that a car exists, it knows when to change from red to green.
Some traffic intesections are timed, but most lights are timed to the traffic pattern.
"Bumping" the light, while fun, has no effect on the timing of traffic lights.
Running out and hitting the pedestrian cross button does help, if the intersection has regulated crosswalks, Just be sure to put your vehicle in "P" before attempting, or, if stick, in the center with the parking brake engaged.
If not, follow the rule of "Do Not Be Stupid"
2006-09-29 18:47:08 · answer #2 · answered by d_cider1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For the most part....traffic lights are timed. But they are timed for the commute hours. Non-commute hours the lights are changed by cars approaching. Thus cars do "trip" the light with their weight.
Sometimes a car can miss the sensors when they come to a stop, and not trip the light. Moving forward or backward will "trip" the light.
2006-09-29 18:33:26 · answer #3 · answered by seatony 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some lights have sensors in the ground that are tripped by weight from the car. Some turn arrows work the same way. This mostly happens late night... Gotta love technology!!
2006-09-29 18:30:56 · answer #4 · answered by Raven Sky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there are sensors in the pavement that the metal of the car will trip. its a big coil of wire. its easier to trip if the car is moving, its called induction. most are timed, some use photo cells at night but computers are controlling them more and more
2006-09-29 18:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by oldguy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
street lights are either timed or run on sensors under the ground. they feel the weight of your car and trip it off.
2006-09-29 18:23:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
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2016-10-15 09:00:44 · answer #7 · answered by ashworth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is the weight .. and I know that in MN (where I live), if you do what that guy above me says, "flash your lights", you can get ticketed/arrested because that is for cops only
2006-09-29 18:31:37 · answer #8 · answered by crazypantsmcgee69 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
some yes, these have a motion camera, and some no the ones that use the weight of the car to rigger them.
2006-09-29 19:43:29 · answer #9 · answered by jw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
flash ur high beem light and see if it works.it works for me only when they have cameras installed on the top of the pole
2006-09-29 18:24:02 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋