I've been told both ways: 1) that those little red pushbuttons mounted on pedestrians' STOP and WALK signal poles have no effect on the duration on stoplights and are put there to "pacify" impatient pedestrians; and 2) that they do indeed shorten the time a pedestrian has to wait for the light to change. What's the truth?
2007-01-12 07:27:48 · 9 answers · asked by parpar1836 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Safety
They "have no effect on the duration on stoplights".
They make the light "system" know you are there and you are likely a pedestrian, as you pushed the button.
The system knows that on it's next sequence of change, it must also engage the WALK signal, and does so for a timed limit.
If the button isn't engaged, and no vehicle has tripped the sensor going your direction, then the signaling system will follow it's "default" pattern.
On a major street meeting a minor street, this default pattern is usually a continuous green on the major street.
So, 'those "PUSH BUTTON FOR WALK SIGNAL" buttons really work' -- as intended -- but not as a master control.
2007-01-12 08:30:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes and no. The "walk button" is on the same system as the weight sensors in the street are on. The weight sensors are trigger when a car pulls up to the light. So if you are crossing the street (say going north) and a car is already there waiting to go across also, your pushing of the button will make no difference, the car already trigger the sensor. If there are no cars waiting to cross and you push the button, now you have set off the trigger. Keep in mind that pushing the button just tells the light your standing there waiting to cross, it does not mean it will change the light for you right away. If the light has'nt change in awhile it most likely will change the second you hit the button, but if it just got done changing there will still be a delay. ~A~
2007-01-12 07:41:42 · answer #2 · answered by porsche 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can only tell you that where I live, the button doesn't make the light change any faster, but it DOES make it stay green longer for the pedestrian, who usually is trying to cross 6-8 lanes of traffic. If they are trying to drag a bunch of kids along, it can take a while.
Also, in SOME areas, the pedestrian "walk" light will not turn on at all until the button is pushed.
2007-01-12 09:49:12 · answer #3 · answered by Trump 2020 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it shortens the time that you have to wait. I think that it just shows you the WALK signal when its your turn to go.
2007-01-12 07:32:00 · answer #4 · answered by bewitching_green_fairy 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
probably #1 cuz whenever i push them they seem to take longer lol
2007-01-12 07:30:01 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they actually do work!
2007-01-12 07:35:24 · answer #6 · answered by Laura R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah they work
2007-01-12 08:24:34 · answer #7 · answered by scott w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they do work..
2007-01-12 07:29:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yeah they do
2007-01-12 07:29:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋