For now, green means go, red means stop

What makes traffic lights work?

There's little more frustrating than sitting at a red light that refuses to change. It feels as if the system is rigged against us. How long will this take? Is the light broken? Why me? What have I done to anger the traffic gods?! 

Seconds stretch on like minutes as we wait our turn. 

Image by Moshen Ameri, via Unsplash.

But then it happens. That three-eyed arbiter of forward motion finally favors us. Green means go, and that's what we do - go! Pedal to the metal. Freedom at last. 

We get our way - for a time. 

But, as inevitably as the sun also rises, we're soon stopped again at another red light. Alas, there's a red for every green. And whenever we stop or go, another driver takes their turn at going or stopping. 

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Regarding traffic lights, there's some pretty cool tech in many traffic systems these days. The most simple systems use timers, scheduled based on traffic flow and meant to optimize travel in all directions. But these are woefully imperfect. (Sitting at a red light while no traffic elsewhere exists is infuriating.) 

Image by Eliobed Suarez, via Unsplash.

Addressing this, many municipalities have adopted "smart" traffic monitoring strategies using integrated computer networks connected to magnets, motion sensors, and cameras that "see" when vehicles are present. These systems adapt to real-time traffic patterns and change the lights accordingly. But even these advanced technologies have their flaws. 

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Sensors go out, and networks go down. Even when all is functioning, smart systems are far from perfect. Working detectors often miss bicycles, scooters, and motorcycles, for example. Cameras don't recognize these smaller vehicles as vehicles, and the magnets and sensors similarly don't register them. (As an avid bicycle rider and geeky scooter owner, I've experienced firsthand the frustration of feeling invisible at a traffic light.) It doesn't seem right, but it's still against the law to run a light - whether it recognizes us or not. 

That's the tradeoff in building systems for everyone. Not everyone wins, and it's not always fair. But it's fairer than not. Notably, that fairness comes not from the lights or any of that high-tech behind-the-scenes stuff.

Traffic lights work because we agree they should.

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There is no gate, no formal impasse at lighted intersections - nothing to physically stop us from going whenever we want. The only reason traffic lights work at all is we consent to follow their warnings. They work because we agree to a set of rules that, despite being inconvenient at times, are better than the alternative. 

Sure, the infrequent driver ignores a light by accident or willful disregard. And even the most law-abiding motorists occasionally push the envelope, passing through a yellow light before it's red. But rarely does anyone abandon our collective good in total disregard for safety. Yes, by and large, even the most selfish drivers follow the rules because, deep down, we all know it's the best thing we can do.

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When cars are entirely self-driving, traffic lights will likely become obsolete. But until then, traffic lights it is. And for good reason. Stop signs are slow. And while roundabouts work more smoothly in many cases, it’s still easier and cheaper to rig up some lights than put in a circle.

Image by Stephen H., via Unsplash.

At least for now, traffic lights are a workable compromise between free-wheeling chaos, intractable traffic jams, and public acceptance. And accept them we do, into our mechanized society, knowing that we won't always get our way, but we will get our turn. 

So the next time you're stuck at a light, think about all the drivers around you, following along in this collective agreement. We all make it possible to get from A to B. And it takes everyone, more or less on the same page to make it happen.

Have patience and work within the system. It's our best bet to green-light a brighter tomorrow.

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Until next time.

JRC