Studies have shown that drivers can spend anywhere between two to five days annually waiting at a red light — and sometimes, even up to six months of their entire life.
Myths including flashing your headlights to make the traffic system go from red to green, or hiding a magnet beneath your vehicle are not only ineffective, but they’re also illegal.
And while there’s no sure way to make a red light turn green faster, there are some hacks that can be implemented in some case that can help secure a quick and easy run. Chris Miller from the Department of Transport Victoria explains.
Studies have shown that drivers can spend anywhere between two to five days annually waiting at a red light Source: 9News.
Is it possible to get a green light every time?
Miller said “the way to get the green light” is to be where “most of the traffic is”.
“Intersections don’t work independently, they tend to be linked to other intersections along specified routes. We look at the data, we look at the travel patterns and where the demand is,” he told Drive.
“If you travel down the road at the prescribed speed limit, you can actually catch what’s called a ‘green wave’. As you approach the intersection, travelling at that speed, traffic lights know that a whole cohort of cars are coming down that road, and they’ll kind of deliver that green time.”
Following the speed limit is the secret to getting the green light, Miller said. And while speeding may give you the idea you’ll arrive at your venue quicker, you’re actually giving yourself a better chance of getting stuck at a red light while breaking the law.
Where you stop at a set of lights matters
When it comes to “traffic loops in the road”, the electromagnetic sensors detect when a car has pulled up to a set of lights, Miller explained.
He said “in the middle of the night when there’s no demand”, drivers “probably find that when you pull up, the light will fairly quickly go green” as long as nothing is coming in the other direction.
At those times, he said, the light is triggered by a magnetic loop built into the road pavement.
“To trigger the lights, just run over that detector, make sure that you pull up to the line at the intersection and the magnets underneath the road will detect your car and away you’ll go,” he said.
Properly positioning your vehicle is crucial when driving on less busy roads, especially during off-peak times. Traffic light sensors rely on detecting your presence, and stopping too far back might result in a frustratingly long wait for the lights to turn green.
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