3 minute traffic light.

[JockoT]

I have mentioned elsewhere about the 3 minute traffic light that I encounter on my regular morning runs. Irrespective of the traffic situation it sits on red (or green) for 3 minutes at a time. Initially I was exasperated, but I have now grown to love it.
If you approach it at red you can confidently switch off, knowing that there is very little likelihood of it changing the moment you do so. And if it is green you can continue on with little chance of suddenly having to brake.
I am sure that for most drivers it is still a pain in the nether regions, but I reach it having dropped my wife off at work, I am in no hurry, with no reason to get anywhere quickly, so I just enjoy it for what it is. A bit of predictability in an otherwise unpredictable world.

[Fat Charlie]

Predictability is great.

[gtOmologato]

One thing I loved about China was their traffic lights.
Every traffic light was a 2 ft tall number display that counted from 45 down to 1. The display was red and instead of hitting 0 it would turn to a green 45 and count down to 1. You could time your lights from a half mile away!
I snagged this pic online; 6 seconds to red!

[JockoT]

That is a brilliant idea. Rest of the gantry looks a bit confusing, but I suppose once you get used to them and know what it all means!

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by JockoT

That is a brilliant idea. Rest of the gantry looks a bit confusing, but I suppose once you get used to them and know what it all means!

Seems simple to me, in that picture right turn and through traffic is good to go, while left turn is currently a nono because red arrow.

[JockoT]

Just realised that the right hand set of lights is for bicycles. That is what confused me. Struggled to make it out on my display.

[gtOmologato]

The lights over there are used to not get in an accident, not really to be followed too closely. And bicycles sneak in ANYWHERE they can without getting hit

[JockoT]

I was caught out by my 3 minute light, this morning. As I approached it it turned to red. I switched off, stopped and it almost immediately it turned back to green! They have obviously re timed it. There must have been complaints. As it is on a bus route the drivers must have complained to Stagecoach and they must have complained to the council.
Seems nothing in life is dependable!

[puddleglum]

The only thing that never changes is "change is inevitable".
I like those Chinese traffic lights. I wish they would "change" to that setup here.

[JockoT]

Originally Posted by puddleglum

I like those Chinese traffic lights. I wish they would "change" to that setup here.

They are brilliant. They would get my vote.
In the UK traffic lights are always before the crossing. My first day driving in the US (San Francisco - I'd picked car up at airport) I drove up to red light and stopped. Only to find I was in the middle of a large, multi lane interchange. Oops!