Jalopnik: City Tests Traffic Light That Only Turns Green for Drivers Who Obey the Speed Limit

[TheBlackAdder]

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https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_1315/ac03e8eaec91bbb54dd79ba9c223aea3.jpg

Brossard, Quebec, is the first place in Canada to test-run the traffic light. The new light is a feu de ralentissement éducatif (educational traffic-calming light) or FRED. It’s designed to stay red until it senses a coming car, only changing green if the car is going the speed limit. FRED forces fast drivers to stop and gives them a chance to really reconsider their life choices.

Engineers placed FRED near a school zone in Brossard that was plagued with throttle-happy Quebec drivers.

https://jalopnik.com/city-tests-traffic-light-that-only-turns-green-for-driv-1850419759

Meet FRED, Quebec's latest school zone traffic light that leaves speeding drivers on red

The agency says 96 per cent of drivers exceeded the 30 km/h speed limit, with an average speed of 40 km/h.

Near École Saint-Claude in Quebec City, the agency recorded motorists going even faster, at an average of 45 km/h, well above the posted limit.

“We also spotted 2 drivers going way too fast—40 km/h over the limit,” wrote CAA-Quebec in a press release describing the study.

https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/meet-fred-quebec-s-latest-school-zone-traffic-light-that-leaves-speeding-drivers-on-red-1.6378486

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[bucolic_frolic]

1. Oh, yeah? How's it work in heavy traffic

Do motorists shoot out the lights? That would be its reception in the USA, no?

[Alexander Of Assyria]

2. Not meant for heavy traffic. Or any traffic. Meant for speed calming in 30kph zones, like schools.

[Irish_Dem]

4. So some drivers see a green light and keep driving while the car in front of them slams on brakes

because they see a red light.

OK.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Exactly. It's not a real redlight. We already have speed bumps & real time speed display

This red light is along the same lines - self-monitoring to discourage speeding.

[Irish_Dem]

6. But it is a real red-light to the person who sees it as red?

[bucolic_frolic]

7. ah, self-perception. But notice it's not at an intersection. It's a speed zone light.

I think people will ignore it and also find it confusing.

[Irish_Dem]

8. Yes people are strongly habituated to decades old driving protocols and technology.

When the state tries to re-tool the protocol to something new, it is going to be confusing.

[hlthe2b]

3. Less trafficked Boulevards in the wee morning in my area are the frequent site of Red Light Runners

As a frequent very early morning walker with my dog, I've found it safer to jaywalk to cross the street than to trust that drivers will stop at a lit pedestrian crossing at a red light.

So, somehow I doubt this would help in the US. Canadians are more law-abiding and polite, so maybe.