Does flashing your high beams really trick a stoplight to turn green?

Answer 1

Some sensors are photosensitive, contrary to what others may tell you. I work for the traffic department for a living and I know a thing or two about it. Flashing your lights can trigger the cycle in an intersection, but most municipalities don't use the hardware appropriate for this to actually work.

Answer 2

No.

Traffic lights utilize three main methods for determining when to change, none of which are influenced by the headlights of a vehicle.

First, there's the old-fashioned timers. The control box at the intersection simply has a clock inside and switches the lights at predetermined intervals. This is true of all intersections, even if they have another, "on-demand" type of light switching system. This keeps the lights from changing instantly every time another car pulls up on a cross street.

Second, some intersections have motion sensors, allowing the lights to detect when a vehicle has arrived at a cross street. This causes the light control box to start a countdown to change the flow of traffic.

Third, a magnetic detector may be embedded in the road surface just outside the intersection. This also detects cars, motorcycles, and other things with sizable amounts of metal in their construction, and signals the light control box that a vehicle is waiting--this often determines whether or not a turn lane green arrow will light up at all.

Answer 3

No. I tried it many times just to prove my friend wrong. Cause he did it all the time and swore it worked and it annoyed me. I think it's merely coincidence sometimes. if it's late at night and there isn't much traffic you will notice lights change at much faster intervals anyway so there is either some type of sensor involved or it's programmed that way. I've seen traffic police manually change the lights, but that requires opening some box on the corner of the street. also different cities/towns probably have different needs, so they are probably programmable. I do remember however that sometimes if i was the only car in my direction that the light wouldn't change when i was right at the line. as soon as i would back up a couple of feet, the light would magically change.....i'v tried this many times.

Answer 4

Some "Opticoms" from 3M work with a strobe light, it'll flash at a certain speed and trigger the traffic light (our city uses this system). So if you can manage to flash your headlights 20 times per seconds you'll be cruisin'. Before you start practicing, remember, different communities uses different systems.

Answer 5

LOL, no. Think about it, where would your beams flash? Certainly there's no sensor to pick up the beam of light. Most lights don't have sensors. The lucky lights that do have sensors are in a certain place to see where your vehicle is waiting. You could have no lights on, for it all matters.

Answer 6

No flashing your high beams will not change the light to green

Answer 7

The police, fire and other emergency vehicles usually use MIRT (Mobile Infrared Transmission) to change lights to green. As the name implies, it uses infrared light to cause the change, not visible light. It is probably unlawful to have such a device in a non-emergency vehicle.

Answer 8

No, has no effect, no light sensor on them. look for a 3' by 4' square cut into the ground at the start of the stop location, tha tis a magnetic sensor some lights have installed to cause them to sense your car ande change quicker, if their isn't anyone else at either side.

Answer 9

That's kind of funny.

To "trick" a light implies that it is stupid, and THAT implies that it has a brain.

The way you REALLY trick one is to approach it from the right, and tap it on it's left shoulder. Also, they almost ALWAYS fall for the "pull my finger" gag.

Answer 10

it worked for me when I needed it to...

former truck driver... 5 years

I'm just moving through real quick today, doing cut and paste answers...this part is cut and pasted, but the sentence above was not. I mean every word of it, even if it's just one word. Today is a points day. Rock on ....