What Is On This Traffic Light

Viet_Vet · May 13, 2018

My town just installed this on the traffic lights, in a school zone, any ideas to its function? ?

LauraR · May 13, 2018

It looks like the sensor for emergency vehicles. They hit a button and it automatically changes the light to green for just them. That's my guess. It does not look like a speed trap camera and depending on your state or town, they'd probably have to inform people if they had installed one.

It could also just be a sensor for waiting traffic so the light knows there are cars waiting. Either way...I think it's a sensor. I'm sure you could call your township/municipal office and ask.

Viet_Vet · May 13, 2018

Thank you

Viet_Vet · May 13, 2018

LauraR said: ↑

It could also just be a sensor for waiting traffic so the light knows there are cars waiting. Either way...I think it's a sensor. I'm sure you could call your township/municipal office and ask.
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There are sensors in the road bed for that puppose.

Fred_G · May 14, 2018

It is the aliens, watching you...

LauraR · May 14, 2018

Viet_Vet said: ↑

There are sensors in the road bed for that puppose.
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Maybe, but they are still traffic controllers: http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf...ious_white_squares_on_nj_traffic_signals.html

"The square white boxes are the receivers for radios used to transmit data from one signal to another," he said. "The traffic signals communicate via radio waves about traffic volumes and other parameters at their respective locations."

Why do signals need to communicate with each other? To keep traffic from backing up.

The system is called the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System or SCATS. It was installed at 15 intersections on Route 130 and at two on Route 32, which are feeder roads from the New Jersey Turnpike, according to TransCore, the company that designed it.

When those highways become congested from traffic leaving the Turnpike, SCATS adjusts the traffic light timing to provide longer green lights to move traffic, the company said. The system does that by measuring vehicle speeds as they roll across sensors under stop lines in intersections, according to a 2006 Rutgers study.
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Replicator · May 14, 2018

Fred_G said: ↑

It is the aliens, watching you...
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Nah, they use Russian satellites for that

ownthree · May 14, 2018

lol

Fred_G · May 14, 2018

Replicator said: ↑

Nah, they use Russian satellites for that
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Da.

Viet_Vet · May 14, 2018

LauraR said: ↑

Maybe, but they are still traffic controllers: http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf...ious_white_squares_on_nj_traffic_signals.html
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info, it was very interesting.

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What Is On This Traffic Light

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