the "construction" people place wires on the ground in the local streets...are they monitoring our speed? It is a black wire that is laid on the ground when we drive past it....
2006-12-17 14:27:59 · 11 answers · asked by simon says 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
They are traffic counters. Used to determine the number of cars that use the road in a given time period. Helps with traffic planning.
Roads are rated on their "level of service" (LOS). If a road experiences severe congestion during a good part of the day, it is given a grade of "F." If traffic is light and flows smoothly most of the day, with no delays, it is given a grade of A. Most traffic engineers consider a "D" grade to be acceptable. Traffic counters help in determining these grades.
Typically they take the number of hits they get and divide it by two, due to the fact that each car hits the tube twice (two axles). There may be some formula to account for trucks and other vehicles with more than 2 axles.
2006-12-17 14:29:37 · answer #1 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what the "wire" is. Sometimes while construction is going on they will place a black wire-like cable that actually just counts the cars. It is so they can get an idea of how much traffice goes through there on any given time.
That may be what you are seeing, might not be. I'm sure you will have a few more answers!
:)
2006-12-17 14:31:25 · answer #2 · answered by Boodie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It helps them monitor the amount of traffic in the area. They want to know if the road system that is in place can handle the traffic. If they build in an area that all ready has too much they can mess things up. In some cases when they have just made a new route they want to see if people are using it.
2006-12-17 14:37:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wires are for counting cars.
They can not monitor speed because there is no way for them to get an accurate reading of how fast you are going unless they know the wheelbase of the vehicle passing over them - and obviously that is not practical.
2006-12-17 14:37:15 · answer #4 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To see how many people use that road. If more people use that road than they first thought, then they might put in traffic lights or traffic calmers etc
2006-12-17 14:32:32 · answer #5 · answered by Katie G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought that was set there by the cops to monitor speed...?
2006-12-17 14:29:50 · answer #6 · answered by luvguns2002 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
to see how many cars drive on that road. it could also be for speed but not usually.
2006-12-17 14:29:21 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually I think it is just under the walk-way
2006-12-17 14:38:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it counts cars so they know what kind of traffic flow they have on that partucular road!
2006-12-17 14:36:36 · answer #9 · answered by dragonberry_huckefly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey I always wanted to know myself! Thanks for posting this question!
It's always cool reading questions that people ask and wondering the same thing!
: )
2006-12-17 14:31:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋