The traffic lights turn green as I arrive. Is it sensors or my timing or pure good luck?

Favorite Answer

its probably the sensors, and it would also have to depend on the time of day / night.

try this: the next time you're driving down the same road, look for black circles (not burnout marks) on the pavement itself. there should be one per lane about 50-100 ft before the intersection and another 2 to 3 sets per lane at the intersection itself.

the circle markings on the pavement are the sensors, and if there is little or no traffic, the sensors 50-100 ft before the intersection will "sense" you, giving it enough time for the traffic light to turn green on your side



aside from all of that, it could be luck... haha...Show more

Yes, it is a magnetic sensor. If I were on foot and for some reason wanted to walk down the middle of the lane, I could make the light turn green by dragging a thick chain over the square cut-out in the pavement....Show more

Could be sensors. The sensor detects when a car is approaching or when a car is sitting at a red light and then changes the light to allow the car to go. Also, a little known fact is that if you go the speed limit from leaving a green light all the future lights will be green when you reach them....Show more

Many lights around here with (hall effect) sensors (embedded in the pavement) do this. If cross traffic is stopped (obviously) and the traffic across from you has a green, and there is no one at "your" light, it will stay red until the sensor is tripped, then go green instantly....Show more

There is a little man inside the light and he changes it when he see's you coming.

Just kidding! Almost all lights are run on a timer based on traffic patterns. There are some, but very few that can operate on sensors. All of them can have a devise plugged into them so they can be manually controlled (usually by the police for a special event, etc.)...Show more