Why do temporary traffic lights take ages to change?

Question

I must have sat there for nearly 5 minutes. There was about a 30 pause where no traffic was moving at all, then they changed. Why can't they change quickly and prompty like the normal light do?

Answer 1

Because the workmen get to manually set the timer, and they don't judge the timings properly, probably to cover their *** in case someone gets stuck in the middle when the lights change.

Some of the older lights can be changed by flashing your lights at them if there are no cars on the other side, as they work on a motion/light detector system.

Answer 2

Some temporary traffic lights are manually activated (turned on or off) by people who are either close to or away from (that is remotely) the traffic light. If they happen to be busy with other activities, they will activate the light when feasible. Sometimes, this takes a while. But look at it this way, if there was no light at all, the congestion caused by a lack of driver discipline (people who are in a hurry or think they always have the right of way) would keep you there longer than 5 minutes.

Answer 3

Fixed traffic lights have their timings set by qualified highway engineers in accordance with the needs of a particular location. Temporary traffic lights are generally set up by relatively unskilled labour. The important thing to get right on temporary lights is the "dwell time" - the period when both sets are on red. This needs to be long if the road works are long and/or traffic is slow-moving through the works. It seems to be common practice to set 5 minutes each way with 30 seconds dwell.

Answer 4

True what Lydia says

Also, because they are temporary no traffic surveys have been done to monitor the speed of traffic - so, for safety they have a longer period inbetween the lights changing from red to green.

Answer 5

Sorry to disappoint you Lydia but traffic lights are programmed to respond to strobe lights (police, ambulance, fire) so unless you are flashing your lights really fast it ain't gonna make a difference. The reason they take so long is A) They are on a timer. B) They have to delay to allow all the traffic moving in one direction to pass the hazard. C) (and most important) To be really bloody annoying.

Answer 6

Because they are temporary and they take ages to change, some people jump them when they are red (to avoid waiting 5 min). Hence a long pause it needed.

Answer 7

The temporary lights are not programed into the system, so the work at whatever the settings in the individual lights are programed for.

Answer 8

To allow slower moving traffic time to get through the stretch of road, e.g - cyclists, or old folk that have just had half a pint of shandy and are being extra careful.

Answer 9

Some do take ages! Most pedestrain controlled ones take the p!ss.
However, i read somewhere that if you are ina hurry to get somewhere and speeding, the lights are timed so you run into them to slow you down. Hence if your going to fast! B@stards.

Answer 10

Stop Crying! Get out of your car, smash the lights, and just move on .