Some people say that by flashing your car lights at the traffic lights, you can get the lights to turn green. Apparently, this is for the use of emergency vechicles.
2007-08-21 22:41:49 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Not only is it a complete urban myth, it's also dangerous. You could be blinding oncoming traffic by doing so.
2007-08-21 22:47:31 · answer #1 · answered by oracle128au 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not true. Some fire engines in some towns have a high frequency strobe light that is mounted on top of the engine. The controller equipment at the signal has a directional detector that sees the engine coming. The controller equipment safely clears any cross street traffic, pedestrians, and then gives the fire engine the green light. Once the engine has passed, the light will cycle normally. Car headlights are not at the right height or do not have the right strobe frequency to make this occur, even if flashing your headlights. If you think you've done this, the light was in the process of changing anyway.
2007-08-21 22:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by tushanna_m 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you're from, but here in California the answer is no. Emergency vehicles have transmitters that change the lights. You can usually spot these recievers on the light pole, they are white circular receivers. Flashing your brights only endangers those driving, and really annoys other people. Traffic lights usually are either A) On timers, or B) Have sensors beneath the asphault (noticible usually by black circles in the traffic lanes, almost as big as the width of the lane).
2007-08-21 22:55:03 · answer #3 · answered by chrisbcreem2002 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With some systems you could change them by having a strobe light flashing at the right frequency though you're not going to be able to flash your headlights fast enough.
Those systems did turn out to be far too easy to be abused (though those who abused them would get into a lot of trouble when caught) so most of them have been replaced with more secure systems (some of them also turned every light red and then just relied on the emergency vehicle being allowed to run a red light).
2007-08-21 23:01:42 · answer #4 · answered by bestonnet_00 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Emergency vehicles have transmitters that turn all traffic's lights red at an intersection. Of course they are allowed to run reds. These transmitters can also be purchased illegally.
2007-08-21 22:47:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
no their on a timer and yes some do have a sensor built into them for emergency ambulances and fire trucks but those are very costly and mostly in the larger citys so sometimes that trick will work but if they catch you you`ll get fined big time
2007-08-21 22:47:52 · answer #6 · answered by crypt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On some older intersections, yes flashing your brights may signal a light change...... but if you get caught by the police doing that, you'll get a ticket I heard.
2007-08-21 22:44:57 · answer #7 · answered by bezsenný 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Thats dumb.. then all the lights would be changing whenever people want them to left and right.
2007-08-21 22:46:00 · answer #8 · answered by oOo GINA oOo x 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No! there are sensors under the road surface.
2007-08-21 22:46:38 · answer #9 · answered by joe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stop listening to those jokers..they are probably laughing behind your back...they are not your friends...the answer is no
2007-08-21 22:46:39 · answer #10 · answered by grasshoppah 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋