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simultaneous green light take off procedure

allowing the maximum number of cars through intersection at each interval
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Upon approaching the intersection, your car is automatically hooked up to a device similar to what they use at the car wash. A tow-veyor type chain system buried in a channel under the pavement, would hook up and propel each car at once. Allowing even the cars at the back of the line to take off as soon as the light turns green. This obviously would be reserved for busy intersections, where it is common to sit through several light change cycles. You could actually respond to the light instead of the cars in front of you.
hard-scrabble, Nov 16 2002

This will get you off http://www.lakehurs...mil/nlweb/pic25.gif
the ground. [Amos Kito, Oct 04 2004]


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Annotation:







       When I was a boy I had basically the same idea. I told it to my Dad, and he said "Yes, I think we've all had that idea at one time or another."   

       So, while perhaps not easily google-able, I think this has been out there for a while.
snarfyguy, Nov 16 2002
  

       How about the sort of catapult [link] they use to launch planes from aircraft carriers?
Amos Kito, Nov 17 2002
  

       They should just have sensors to let lights stay green on the main through fairs unless there is traffic coming from the other direction, and timed lights only when both sensors are in conflict. I think this would alleviate a lot of congestion.   

       Ban cars, take the bus. No problem.
Le Champ, Nov 17 2002
  

       There *is* a problem with banning cars and taking the bus
thumbwax, Nov 18 2002
  

       Why not take control of the car away from the driver in built up areas, so then there's no need for traffic lights at all. On board computers built into cars link to Global Positioning Systems. The cars then proceed via their pre determined waypoints to the other side of the computer controlled zone at reasonable speed, no sudden stops or starts at intersections would be required as all the traffice would "mesh" within the whole zone.
Micky Dread, Nov 18 2002
  

       This would be awesome if it actually washed your car...
Supercruiser, Nov 18 2002
  

       //It's funny that everyone sees the traffic light, but no one moves until the car in front of them moves. But when you see brake lights five cars ahead, you hit the brakes.//   

       I wonder if that has anything to do with certain laws of physics. Most notably what happens if the above procedures aren't followed.
supercat, Nov 18 2002
  

       Ban transportation altogether. Go back to the ways of village life.   

       Hey, there you go cruiser. Car washes at intersections...
RayfordSteele, Nov 18 2002
  

       Go back to the village life, no thanks I saw a recent program on TV about the Village People, HHHmmmm too scarey for me.
Micky Dread, Nov 18 2002
  

       I thought this through for a long time (sitting in traffic in LA with nothing to do). And i figured it out. The reason it takes so long is because the drivers need to develop a little space in between them and the car in from of them, so they wait a little bit. If noone waited, and you somehow managed to get everyone to accelerate at once, you would have everyone 3 feet behind eachother. Not a good way to drive. Even if you gradually spaced out after you were though the light, you wouldn't gain or lose any time.
sjruckle, Mar 25 2004
  

       Car washes at intersections? We already have those around Los Angeles, but we call them Homeless or Bums.
kenfuzed, Jul 01 2004
  

       I never get a car wash after I give em 50 cents.. I've been robbed!
sjruckle, Jul 10 2004
  


 

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