Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

High efficiency traffic lights don't melt snow cover, creating traffic hazard
Associated Press ^ | Friday December 11, 2009 | Associated Press

Posted on 12/11/2009 9:18:01 AM PST by jpl

Edited on 12/11/2009 9:35:36 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP)

(Excerpt) Read more at fox6now.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Wisconsin
KEYWORDS: consequences; energy; envirofascism; globalwarminghoax; greenenergy; led; unintended
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last
To: thefactor
I thought civil engineers thought of things like this. Yeah, they'll save electricity, but how much are you paying all those work crews? And if they are on overtime, forget it!

They did think about it! More union jobs...every city now needs to hire additional union members to clear the snow out of the traffic lights.

41 posted on 12/11/2009 10:00:12 AM PST by DouglasKC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: jpl

Stupid, unenlightened, mouth breathing, joe-six pack, Walmart shoppers are soooo stupid! (Crash!)

(upside down dead superior progressive that got hit at the snow covered light)

“—”
.O.
x?x


42 posted on 12/11/2009 10:00:12 AM PST by listenhillary (I believe AGW is real now. It was caused by scientists and greenies LYING!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jpl

LOL.... my gawd! Do I have to tell those northerners how to do everything... :-)

Just put a little heater on it, and only have it switch on during precipitation and freezing weather...

I mean, could it be simpler? They won’t have a whole lot of days of the year where they’ll even have to have it on... :-)


43 posted on 12/11/2009 10:01:44 AM PST by Star Traveler (The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a Zionist and Jerusalem is the apple of His eye.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jpl

The big advantage to LEDs is not so much the power but that they take less maintenance (changing bulbs). The problem with the ice could easily be solved with a thermostatically controlled heater.


44 posted on 12/11/2009 10:08:32 AM PST by babygene (Figures don't lie, but liars can figure...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: IYAS9YAS
My wife got T-Boned at an intersection last month because of that. Old tech bulbs. The sun was shining directly on the lights (late afternoon) and made all of them look like they were lit. Young girl blew through it and smacked her. No one injured in either vehicle (thank you Lord), but both cars totaled.

Like fire hydrants, traffic lights need to be designed to function in any weather (hydrants in areas that freeze automatically drain when closed.)

The lens heater is a good idea to melt snow. While the incandescents melt the snow anyway, in much of the country, like my part of Texas, that function is necessary maybe eight hours a year. The lower energy consumption is a BIG DEAL on things like traffic lights that are supposed to function 24/7/365.

45 posted on 12/11/2009 10:09:19 AM PST by Richard Kimball (We're all criminals. They just haven't figured out what some of us have done yet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: -YYZ-
Unfortunately, our roads are filled with idiots who barely have any clue about the rules of the road. They have no idea that flashing red equals “stop”, or that no signal equals “stop.”

Just as most people will insist that GREEN means GO NO MATTER WHAT.

46 posted on 12/11/2009 10:10:01 AM PST by UCANSEE2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Wyatt's Torch

“BTW, is your screen name a reference to the Rush song?”

Yes, and also to the fact that I live relatively near to Toronto now.


47 posted on 12/11/2009 10:14:19 AM PST by -YYZ- (Strong like bull, smart like ox.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: DouglasKC
They did think about it! More union jobs...every city now needs to hire additional union members to clear the snow out of the traffic lights.

Sounds like a "shovel-ready project" to me. More jobs saved or created on TOTUS' watch.

48 posted on 12/11/2009 10:17:10 AM PST by onemiddleamerican (FUBO - and all your terrorist buddies, too!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: -YYZ-

Cool. I am a huge Rush fan (saw them probably 5 times in the 80’s) and love that song. The drum solo from Exit Stage Left is a classic. Also a big fan of Neal Peart’s books.


49 posted on 12/11/2009 10:18:43 AM PST by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

Very good.....like the way you think Joe !


50 posted on 12/11/2009 10:20:46 AM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: babygene
The big advantage to LEDs is not so much the power but that they take less maintenance (changing bulbs). The problem with the ice could easily be solved with a thermostatically controlled heater.

Of course it could be. What would that do to the supposed energy savings I wonder.

51 posted on 12/11/2009 10:47:47 AM PST by Red Boots
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Red Boots; babygene
The big advantage to LEDs is not so much the power but that they take less maintenance (changing bulbs). The problem with the ice could easily be solved with a thermostatically controlled heater.

"Of course it could be. What would that do to the supposed energy savings I wonder."

Saving electricity and labor costs on a permanent basis, yet having to equal the warmth of the old fashioned bulbs on snow days in a $400,000.00 outdoor fixture that is electric.

I think that modern science can handle the challenge and still save a fortune in electricity and labor costs.

52 posted on 12/11/2009 11:06:09 AM PST by ansel12 (Traitor Earl Warren's court 1953-1969, libertarian hero, anti social conservative warrior.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: Syncro
Surely if they have solar cells to make electricity, they have snowlar ones too?

Not yet, but I'm working on a break-through idea for a solar cell that works at night (hint: it uses "black light!").

Regards,
GtG

53 posted on 12/11/2009 11:22:58 AM PST by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: CodeToad
Why is this an issue? The traffic regs say if the light is out, including if it cannot be understood, then you treat the light as a red light and stop. Anyone blowing through a controlled intersection is an idiot.

The traffic lights weren't out, they were just covered so that they couldn't be seen, and since I live in a snow area I know that those lights may not be blocked out on all sides. Some people may have had the green and could see the green, but those who had the red couldn't see the red.

54 posted on 12/11/2009 11:33:33 AM PST by Balding_Eagle (Perfection is the enemy of Good.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack

LOL!


55 posted on 12/11/2009 11:44:24 AM PST by EdReform (Oath Keepers - Guardians of the Republic - Honor your oath - Join us: www.oathkeepers.org)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: ansel12; Red Boots

“”Of course it could be. What would that do to the supposed energy savings I wonder.”

Saving electricity and labor costs on a permanent basis, yet having to equal the warmth of the old fashioned bulbs on snow days in a $400,000.00 outdoor fixture that is electric.

I think that modern science can handle the challenge and still save a fortune in electricity and labor costs.”

An electric heater would have almost no effect on efficiency since it would only come on when the temperature was below freezing and it would only have to keep it above 32 degrees.


56 posted on 12/11/2009 11:44:43 AM PST by babygene (Figures don't lie, but liars can figure...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: babygene

This little lesson confirms the law of unintended consequences. On a much larger scale the same law will apply to “cap and go to China” and Obamacare. The unintended consequences will be disastrous.


57 posted on 12/11/2009 11:49:17 AM PST by nj patriot (Gore is beyond help.... Snakes in the head.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: jpl

anyone else want to join me in predicting that the savings from the bulbs will never materialize? Whatever they “save” in electricity will be more than offset by higher costs in replacing them, problems like those cited in the article, etc... When do we reach the tipping point? Little by little, one “high efficiency traffic light” at a time, we are getting there.


58 posted on 12/11/2009 12:12:22 PM PST by cdcdawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reagan_fanatic

They could have saved as much money, as well as the cost of the new lights, if they would eliminate about 75% of the traffic lights in the first place. There are way too many traffic lights in many areas. Take a drive up State Road in Parma, Ohio and on into Cleveland. You will stop an average of every 1000 feet.


59 posted on 12/11/2009 12:15:25 PM PST by meyer (Government health care = national strike.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: cdcdawg
anyone else want to join me in predicting that the savings from the bulbs will never materialize?

No

60 posted on 12/11/2009 12:41:16 PM PST by ansel12 (Traitor Earl Warren's court 1953-1969, libertarian hero, anti social conservative warrior.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson