BMW advocating for smarter traffic lights abroad and in U.S.
Source: BMW Pushing For Smart Traffic Lights To Aid Fuel Efficiency - The Car Connection
BMW's Traffic Technology and Traffic Management group has been doing some research... http://www.autoindiaforum.com/wp-con...7/bmw-530d.jpg Quote:
Of course, they're absolutely right that better traffic light timing saves fuel... but it doesn't change the vehicle's government fuel economy ratings. Which makes me wonder... Aside from the PR, what incentive does the company have for pursuing this? |
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Good on 'em. I've long observed that our lights are timed for maximum inconvenience- making as much traffic stop as often as possible. :mad:
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I lived in a town for a long time where almost all the traffic lights were timed for maxium efficiency and traffic flow with traffic sensors built into the road surface. Going to other cities where all the lights are on a simple timer is infuriating. I have to waste a bunch of time idling when there is no cross traffic.
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Sounds great. anything that would change the existing system would be wonderful. The one here in las vegas absolutely sucks. At least once a day I get stuck at an intersection waiting for the light to turn green because they gave the turning lane the green arrow without any cars even being there. Then to make it worse, the drivers here are ridiculous...
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...simple answer: all roads must consist of 4-lane, oneway traffic in a CIRCLE.
...like this: A) OUTSIDE highspeed lane for exits to interior (left). B) center TWO lanes for "through" traffic. C) INSIDE slowspeed lane for on-ramp entry and exits to exterior (right). ...NO stop lights. ...the "Loop" in Boston, the "201 Loop" around Phoenix, etc. |
I would love this! I grew up near Anchorage AK and they have timed lights. There were a couple streets that I could go from one end of the city to the other without stopping. It was one of the best cities I've been in for driving around.
Mike |
Kudo's to BMW:thumbup:
The lights here are AWFUL! there are many I will avoid completely. I have seen drivers get frustrated and tired of waiting they just go. |
Public transport (buses) and cars have different requeriments:
In a car, you would prefer that traffic lights go green as you approach, "green waves" go with the traffic flow and once you are in a "green wave" you don't stop - unless you are too slow and a "red wave" catches you. In a bus, since it has to stop constantly, you would miss those "waves" all the time... then if you want to favour public transport (better overall FE!!) those "green waves" go against traffic, but it is totally inconvenient for cars... Maximum overall efficency is not as easy as it seems -- My brother gave me this explanation once, he is a road engineer -- |
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...it's just a spoke and hub arrangement. |
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In other words one car would catch a green wave all the way and the bus having to stop would have the wave go on without it. The bus would discharge some passengers , collect others and go again catching the next wave until it was required to stop again and repeat the process. Given the volume of exhaust emissions saved by keeping the cars constantly moving this would outweigh the inconvenience of having the bus out of synch with the waves. Pete. |
How about going a bit further? Every traffic light broadcasts its timing - X seconds until I turn red - and a GPS-like receiver in the car indicates what speed to drive to catch the green. If you have the lights with cameras sensors, it could even try figuring out how many cars are waiting...
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Exactly that. Good PR, and it costs them nothing at all to suggest. But even so, good advice! |
Old Tele man -
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CarloSW2 |
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