Traffic Light Changer - where can I get one in the UK?

[Shaun]

A guy on the ride on Sunday had a traffic light changer that turned the lights to green as we approached them and I wondered if anyone knows where to get one in the UK (he got his online from an Asia based electronics company, but can't remember what the site was called).

It's only a small thing, like a car key fob, but it works at quite a distance from the lights and means you don't have to stop and can carry on with your ride at a good pace. (Apparently they're used by emergency services vehicles to clear a path when they're on a call-out).

If anyone knows where I can get one, can you let me know.

Thanks,
Shaun

 

[Herzog]

I wondered if anyone knows where to get one in the UK (

I hope nowhere...sounds like trouble.

 

[funnymummy]

My friend is a paramedic & I just asked her about these gizmo's.
They have a wall mounted switch at the station to operate the lights on the junction outside & a device fitted in the wagons that operate the newer types of lights that have the sensors fitted, but she has said that it definatly not a small handheld/holdable unit.
No idea what your mate has, but I really don't like the thought of folk running round changing lights when it suits them - I know the timing of several local sets, as i'm sure a lot of locals do...it could lead to total chaos & possibly a serious accident if the lights just started changing with no warning

 

[Dayvo]

Taking a taxi early one morning on the way to the airport, the driver flashed the red from 100 yards and the lights changed without him needing to break or slow down.

I'd liked to have one of those changers cos when I was riding n/e - s/w through the main drag in Barcelona me and my mate hit a red at every set of lights: must have been over 50 of them.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I just roll through some sets, even in an artic. Picture the scene: it's 3am, you've got a good view in all directions and you're running at around 42 tonnes. You're 100 yards away from a green light, when it changes. You stand the truck on its nose to stop about five feet beyond the line, only to see absolutely no one come through the lights in the other direction. You can see about a quarter of a mile up the road in every direction. The next time this happens (nearly every night), you slow, have a good look around then roll through the red. Well, I do.

 

[Dan B]

Hmm. Out of curiosity, what speed are you doing in an artic where the stopping distance is 100 yards? ISTR that 315 feet is what the Highway Code used to quote for a 1970s 4 door saloon, but that was the part of the HC I paid less attention to than absolutely any other, and time blurs the memory

 

[ianrauk]

Oooh I want one.. *thinks of the motor chaos I could cause*..

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Maybe it's less than 100 yards then. Or more. I've never actually measured it. All I know is there's one particular set of lights which sometimes changes for no particular reason at a point at which I have to stand on the brakes to stop from around 25-30mph. This means I have to do the next mile or so from a standstill, which means I'm doing about 1.5 mpg for a while. This is bad, and if I can keep moving (which of course I don't do if there's any other traffic anywhere at all) it uses a lot less fuel.

 

[stephec]

But what if one morning there was a lorry coming up to the junction to cross it at a right angle to you, he's seen the green light and knows the junction. Expecting it to be on for another five seconds at least he proceeds as normal, when all of a sudden it changes for no reason when he's 20M from the line?

Edit:Ah just noticed you said you could see in every direction

 

[Rhythm Thief]

But what if one morning there was a lorry coming up to the junction to cross it at a right angle to you, he's seen the green light and knows the junction. Expecting it to be on for another five seconds at least he proceeds as normal, when all of a sudden it changes for no reason when he's 20M from the line?

Edit:Ah just noticed you said you could see in every direction

Yep. There are actually two sets of lights that do this to me on my regular run. The other one doesn't have such good visibility so I stop until I get a green at that one.

 

[Dayvo]

But would the local constabulary see your point of view, RT?

 

[Noodley]

But would the local constabulary see your point of view, RT?

At 3am they would most likely be playing cards and eating pizza.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

But would the local constabulary see your point of view, RT?

I doubt it ... but if I ever do get caught, you won't catch me moaning about it. It's unlikely though, since if there's the merest hint of other road users anywhere around - including headlights on the horizon in the mirrors - I sit and wait at the red like a good road user.

 

[craigwend]

A guy on the ride on Sunday had a traffic light changer that turned the lights to green as we approached them and I wondered if anyone knows where to get one in the UK (he got his online from an Asia based electronics company, but can't remember what the site was called).

It's only a small thing, like a car key fob, but it works at quite a distance from the lights and means you don't have to stop and can carry on with your ride at a good pace. (Apparently they're used by emergency services vehicles to clear a path when they're on a call-out).

If anyone knows where I can get one, can you let me know.

Thanks,
Shaun

Must admit I was impressed as we came upto the traffic lights at 'North Bar' how they mirracously changed; I think there was a mention of some dodgy oversees website

I think this may be the link he mentioned?


http://www.google.co...iw=1016&bih=534

 

[Tyke]

Maybe it's less than 100 yards then. Or more. I've never actually measured it. All I know is there's one particular set of lights which sometimes changes for no particular reason at a point at which I have to stand on the brakes to stop from around 25-30mph. This means I have to do the next mile or so from a standstill, which means I'm doing about 1.5 mpg for a while. This is bad, and if I can keep moving (which of course I don't do if there's any other traffic anywhere at all) it uses a lot less fuel.

How much fuel you going to use when everyone starts changing the lights themselves as they want?