OT: Flashing your brights at intersections

[rahtotheames]

My friend told me the other day that he rarely has to wait at intersections because he just rapidly flashes his brights and the intersection will change to green. He claims that that is how ambulances direct the lights in the way that they do. He says that only certain intersections with the "sensors" are the ones that work.

Anyways, I decided to give it a try the other night. I was coming up to the intersection when it changes to yellow about 20 yards from the intersection. There is another car on the left side of the intersection and nobody across so I just start flickering the lights. It all of a sudden changes back to green. I am now convinced that the rumor is true.

My common sense tells me this is an illegal action; any cops out there can give me some insight?

 

[brianhos]

Nope, not true and quiet illegal. You have to have your lights flashing at just the right frequency that is much faster than you can flip them on and off.

Better not let the federalies see ya, they will bust you quick for doing that.

 

[rahtotheames]

Nope, not true and quiet illegal. You have to have your lights flashing at just the right frequency that is much faster than you can flip them on and off.

Better not let the federalies see ya, they will bust you quick for doing that.

In that case this was a hypothetical question. :wink:

 

[HILLCYD]

Lights can be controlled via radio signal or strobe lights. In any case, you can't flash your car lights fast enough to change the light.

 

[throwittoblythe]

I will reaffirm what others have said, this is a rather popular urban legend. Those signals are set to read a certain frequency of light. There are two types of signals that do this: one that gives a green only to the emergency vehicle and another that gives all red (so the emergency vehicle knows to run the red light). So, tell your friend he's full of it :wink:

 

[clone33]

I will reaffirm what others have said, this is a rather popular urban legend. Those signals are set to read a certain frequency of light. There are two types of signals that do this: one that gives a green only to the emergency vehicle and another that gives all red (so the emergency vehicle knows to run the red light). So, tell your friend he's full of it :wink:

Probably a hawk fan...

 

[FirNaTine]

Some are siren activated also.

 

[crawfy54]

Some are siren activated also.

Rite u are ken, We just got a siren activated one in Denison

 

[ISUAlum2002]

Most traffic lights are controlled by sensors planted in the pavement that your vehicle runs over on its way toward the intersection. When traffic is at peak times, in most cases lights are set on timers, but when traffic volumes are low, they will use the embedded sensors. The sensors are planted far enough away from the intersection that they signal the lights to change to green for you before you slow down too much.

 

[06_CY]

My buddy from Cali told me this when he came to ISU; he would always flash his lights at the stoplight. Sometimes it worked to perfection; the other times, I just laughed at him.:smile:

 

[Cyclonepride]

I've heard this one also. What are the cops going to do to you for trying? You could just tell them you are Tom Cruise and are trying to signal the mother ship:biglaugh:

 

[price26]

The sensors are planted far enough away from the intersection that they signal the lights to change to green for you before you slow down too much.

Unless you are in Ames, the most times the lights are just in a world of their own. I've known the light at Lincoln Way & University to give the opposite direction the green light and I'll be the only one at the intersection, that light really irritates me. And the one coming out of the mall really gets me, it can take up to two minutes to get out of there.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Unless you are in Ames, the most times the lights are just in a world of their own. I've known the light at Lincoln Way & University to give the opposite direction the green light and I'll be the only one at the intersection, that light really irritates me. And the one coming out of the mall really gets me, it can take up to two minutes to get out of there.

Try taking the Grimes exit off of I35 north, and then try to turn left. If you are by yourself, you could grow old and die waiting for it. I damn near ran it once after about 5 minutes of waiting.

 

[throwittoblythe]

State Street & Lincoln Way...worst intersection in Ames. If you're on State, you'll sit for at least 2 minutes if it's during the day. After midnight it switches to equal prompting, but man I hate going that way if it's during the day at all.

 

[TheClone]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Infrared_Transmitter
or
Google: mirt

 

[jdoggivjc]

Most traffic lights are controlled by sensors planted in the pavement that your vehicle runs over on its way toward the intersection. When traffic is at peak times, in most cases lights are set on timers, but when traffic volumes are low, they will use the embedded sensors. The sensors are planted far enough away from the intersection that they signal the lights to change to green for you before you slow down too much.

Davenport and Bettendorf are actually going away from the pavement sensors and going to a sensor mounted on the traffic light crossbar that resembles a video camera (note that these are different from the speeding and red light cameras as these are only for controlling traffic, or so we're told).

 

[GM4ISU]

I flashed mine at a stop sign!:wink: didn't work

 

[jdoggivjc]

I flashed mine at a stop sign!:wink: didn't work

You think??? (apparently not...) :wink:

 

[jbhtexas]

I flashed mine at a stop sign!:wink: didn't work

 

[CloneFan65]

I don't know. While sitting at a red light at night I flashed my brights, and within 90 seconds the light changed to green, so there might be something to this. :wink: