MiDTOWNeR Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Why are they positioned horizontally as opposed to the vertical position most of the world goes along with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Studies have found that people pay better attention to horizontially placed traffic lights. The same goes for yellow fixtures with LED bulbs as well, versus black or green fixtures with traditional bulbs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 I always thought it was to reduce the number that blow down in hurricanes. My old neighborhood in Brooklyn had horizontal traffic lights. It was the only part of New York that did. I haven't been back in 20 years, so it might not be like that anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidtownCoog Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 They are replacing the old vertical with horizontal in downtown as we speak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 yep, horizontal=more support tiesalthough i noticed where there were vertical lights in houston, people were more likely to not see them (out of habit i suppose...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westguy Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Dallas has horizontal, but no hurricanes as of yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncertaintraveler Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 I don't care how the lights are positioned. I just wish they were timed properly. The lights used to be timed wonderfully but in recent days, coming into downtown from Memorial, it seems that I can often go only east (on Texas) one block at a time. It is exceptionally aggravating... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowbrow Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 I've had a personal grievence with the lights in west houston recently. I sat at one light where the turn arrow only made it into the rotation every third cycle. The line for that turn was backed up for miles... people just started going through the red when the straight traffic hit yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 One time I was in Houston and there were Verticl lights, and it really confused me. California and Arizona have horizantal lights too. Last time I went to Cail I remember Big nice looking trffic lights so does the Phoenix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 One time I was in Houston and there were Verticl lights, and it really confused me..This explains alot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Jeebus, have they changed the color of the lights ? They are still Red, Yellow, and Green, correct ? I know those colors can be downright complicated, they've only been using them for 80 or so years. Maybe that's where the confusion is coming in ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citykid09 Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 This explains alot.What I mean is I have always lived where the lights are overhead, so when they were over to the side I was like how do you know when to turn left. But after awhile if fugured those lights out.Like when I first started driving and drove to Houston one time I almost got ran over because driving in Houston and Bryan/College Station are total diffrent. Here we drive much slower and less aggressive then Houston people, but now I am a very agressive driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gto250us Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 My experience in Houston tells me that folks nomally do not see the lights at all. The amount of red light running is far greater than in any other US city. Perhaps the multitude of folks from overseas, where red light running is an art, is the reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 red light running is an art unfortunately, being rude, aggressive, and having a complete lack of awareness is par for the course and apparently an art here, regardless of where anyone is from i get nervous when driving in other cities such as chicago, st. louis, seattle (lack of familiarity) but have never experienced the type of driving that i do here on a daily basis... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Jeebus, have they changed the color of the lights ? They are still Red, Yellow, and Green, correct ? I know those colors can be downright complicated, they've only been using them for 80 or so years. Maybe that's where the confusion is coming in ? Damn it TJ - you actually made me laugh out loud! The only place I ever experienced worse driving was New Orleans. They're not aggressive there as we are here, they're simply unskilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 unfortunately, being rude, aggressive, and having a complete lack of awareness is par for the course and apparently an art here, regardless of where anyone is from i get nervous when driving in other cities such as chicago, st. louis, seattle (lack of familiarity) but have never experienced the type of driving that i do here on a daily basis... Chicago drivers more friendly than Houston? I beg to differ... The three years I drove my car in Chicago was a total nightmare. The drivers there were ignorant and downright vicious. I came back to Houston and got a job as a courier - loved it. Drove 1,000 miles a week, and the whole thing was a cakewalk. There are some jerks around here, but Houstonians should be thankful for what they have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted October 31, 2005 Share Posted October 31, 2005 Chicago drivers more friendly than Houston? I beg to differ... The three years I drove my car in Chicago was a total nightmare. The drivers there were ignorant and downright vicious. I came back to Houston and got a job as a courier - loved it. Drove 1,000 miles a week, and the whole thing was a cakewalk. There are some jerks around here, but Houstonians should be thankful for what they have. that's great - and i am glad for you...but my experiences have been different. chicago was a while back, and other than being completely lost, i had no problems. a couple weeks isn't a true test, perhaps. driving in the medical center daily might not be either...on one hand you have distressed (and rightfully so) out-of-towners without a clue in the world, and then asshole physicians (yes, this is verified! ) who think they rule the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westguy Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 The majority of Houston drivers are either drunk or talking on the phone - both major hazards on the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 asshole physicians (yes, this is verified! ) who think they rule the road. Proctologists are used to ignoring a command to "Stop! Stop!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Proctologists are used to ignoring a command to "Stop! Stop!" ewww! haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Proctologists are used to ignoring a command to "Stop! Stop!" Yep ! You have to look out for those ol' Dr. Jellyfingers, those guys really know how to "drive" it home ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamHouston Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Here's another signal-related question:What's with the double red lights on left turn arrows? Does that mean you can't turn left even when no cars are coming?If so, this is new to me (sort of new...been here a while) having spent a lot of time driving in the Midwest and Northeast where you're more than welcome to cross five lanes of traffic turning left if you think you can make it.I would think these "no left turn yield" lights counter any free enterprise/laissez-faire/no zoning ideals that represent Houston/Texas...and that's precisely why you'll see me turning left on the double red when no cars are approaching.However, if it is that these double reds don't mean "no yield, wait your turn for the arrow," then please ignore my comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiDTOWNeR Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Studies have found that people pay better attention to horizontially placed traffic lights. The same goes for yellow fixtures with LED bulbs as well, versus black or green fixtures with traditional bulbs.ME thinks you are making this one up.I really did not expect such a response to my question. However noone seems to know WHY Texas does this and most places do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 Here's another signal-related question:What's with the double red lights on left turn arrows? Does that mean you can't turn left even when no cars are coming?i thought it was for greater visibilty and to help with color-blindedness...i am probably wrong thoughedit:http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersections/r...eport/chap3.htmfor safety and greater visibilty...Why are they positioned horizontally as opposed to the vertical position most of the world goes along with?That's because horizontal lights provide more clearance than vertical lights, which lets engineers cut the height of the signal structures, Reshadi-Nezhad said. Also, federal guidelines let the state use just one horizontal signal across multiple lanes, but often call for one vertical signal hanging over each lane, she said.from http://www.jsonline.com/traffic/news/jun02...sp?format=print Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeebus Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 ME thinks you are making this one up.I saw it on a news-documentary show a few years back - Dateline perhaps. The story was focused around the 5 worst intersections in the nation. They interviewed engineers who said that testing found less accidents at intersections with horizontal lights versus vertical lights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJones Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 To answer Sam Houston's question, if I read his question correctly, the only time it is permissable to turn LEFT on a redlight, is when the street you are turning onto is a ONEWAY thru traffic. Other than that you have to wait to turn, green arrow, or yield to turn when it is solid green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 The double red lights on the left turn signals actually serve a very practical purpose. At most intersections there is only one left turn signal, which there are at least two signals for thru-traffic and right turns. If the red light on the left turn signal burns out, there needs to be a backup, hence the second red light on those signals. For traffic heading straight and turning right, the backup is the other signal(s) for traffic heading in those directions.I really prefer horizontal signals to vertical. I think it just looks better. Texas is not entirely horizontal though, and there are intersections in the Houston area where vertical signals exist. The signals on Westheimer between Highway 6 and Dairy Ashford are all vertical, and there are others scattered around. In many rural areas of the state vertical signals are more the norm, and in the Beaumont/Pt. Arthur area, there are many signals that are vertical along the freeway frontage roads. The city of Dallas also has quite a few vertical signals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiDTOWNeR Posted November 1, 2005 Author Share Posted November 1, 2005 Ask, and you shall receive.You guys rock, THANKS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sevfiv Posted November 1, 2005 Share Posted November 1, 2005 i have an interesting light on the way to work - crossing under 610, there is a single red light, but TWO green forward arrows. guess people have a hard time gettin' goin' there...haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txshady Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Have any of y'all ever been to Orlando, FL? I like how they have their traffic lights, although they are special for hurricane regions, they are very unique. When we went last year, i had never seen anything like them before. Im not a visual speaker, so I hope this will give y'all a decent picture...Imagine a 4 way intersection, 2 roads the size of Westheimer. Two of the corners, diagonal from each other, have cube shaped aluminum poles that are a good 15 or 16 feet tall and are connected with a "cube" shaped bar that runs diagonal above the full span of the intersection. The traffic lights are then vertical, each which is perfectly aligned for each lane or turn lane and fastened to the diagonal span over the road. The cube shaped poles/span bar resemble that of the track of a Giga or Hyper coaster. They would look nice in Houston, but would be a massive expenditure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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