Question about traffic lights

[fisho mcspaz]

This may sound ridiculous, but...

I always thought that somewhere in Adelaide exists a man in a room where he can see all the major intersections on a TV or computer or something. Thus if an intersection becomes clogged due to an abnormally high influx of traffic on one end, he can manually control the traffic lights until flow returns to normal.

However, when I mentioned this to Mr McSpaz, he thought I was talking bollocks.

I am SURE that there is a person who can control the traffic lights. I reckon the bloke even wrote to the Advertiser once saying that he didn't want to divulge his identity in case an angry mob came after him.

Can someone please confirm this for me? I would hate to think that I imagined it all.

[CK]

You're not imagining it, Fisho, so show this link to Mr McSpaz and take any benefits from a side bet you may have had on it

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/transpor ... ol_cnt.asp

[fish]

You're not imagining it, Fisho, so show this link to Mr McSpaz and take any benefits from a side bet you may have had on it

http://www.transport.sa.gov.au/transpor ... ol_cnt.asp

Yeah I've been for a tour in there it is amazing, with a huge wall full of screens showing various intersections and main roads around the city.

[bayman]

big brother IS WATCHING

[fisho mcspaz]

I showed this to Mr McSpaz. His reply? 'That is NOT what you said to me. You described it as "a little man that can change all the traffic lights from a hidden place". ' Whoops.

[fish]

I showed this to Mr McSpaz. His reply? 'That is NOT what you said to me. You described it as "a little man that can change all the traffic lights from a hidden place". ' Whoops.

Well, technically you are correct: The place is certainly hidden in an unremarkable building in Norwood and is subject to a fair degree of security in terms of getting in. And any of the several traffic controllers in there can, I believe, change the lights at any given location that they see fit in order to ease congestion. I honestly can't remember how tall the traffic controllers were but, by the law of averages, I'd say that there must be at least one of them could be described as "little" too.

So I reckon you win the bet!

[Footy Chick]

This may sound ridiculous, but...

I always thought that somewhere in Adelaide exists a man in a room where he can see all the major intersections on a TV or computer or something. .

YES. There is. Now I don't know who he is, but WHOEVER it is, he hates me with a passion, because everytime he sees me coming up the Sudholz Road hill, he will, without fail, turn the light red at the top of the hill (at the school) SO CLOSE TO HOME.

Alternately, if I'm driving down Danby Avenue (same intersection), he will ensure that I wait at those lights for at LEAST 5 minutes before stopping the people driving on Sudholz Road.

He also does this to me at every opportunity at the intersection of North East and Wandana, and also the Walkleys Road, Sir Ross Smith (or whatever bloody road that is) in Oakden.

Ugh.

[fish]

This may sound ridiculous, but...

I always thought that somewhere in Adelaide exists a man in a room where he can see all the major intersections on a TV or computer or something. .

YES. There is. Now I don't know who he is, but WHOEVER it is, he hates me with a passion, because everytime he sees me coming up the Sudholz Road hill, he will, without fail, turn the light red at the top of the hill (at the school) SO CLOSE TO HOME.

Alternately, if I'm driving down Danby Avenue (same intersection), he will ensure that I wait at those lights for at LEAST 5 minutes before stopping the people driving on Sudholz Road.

He also does this to me at every opportunity at the intersection of North East and Wandana, and also the Walkleys Road, Sir Ross Smith (or whatever bloody road that is) in Oakden.

Ugh.

Maybe he's a secret admirer and just wants to stop you whenever he can so he can admire you from afar...

[Sturtman]

I work in Emergency Services and we call the man in the little room(traffic management) on way to jobs so all the lights turn green for us
Its great but im sure it annoys the people at the intersections we go thru

[bayman]

I work in Emergency Services and we call the man in the little room(traffic management) on way to jobs so all the lights turn green for us
Its great but im sure it annoys the people at the intersections we go thru

any chance you could share 'the man in the little rooms' phone number with just safooty ?

[Media Park]

I work in Emergency Services and we call the man in the little room(traffic management) on way to jobs so all the lights turn green for us
Its great but im sure it annoys the people at the intersections we go thru

any chance you could share 'the man in the little rooms' phone number with just safooty ?

LOL.

[White Line Fever]

I showed this to Mr McSpaz. His reply? 'That is NOT what you said to me. You described it as "a little man that can change all the traffic lights from a hidden place". ' Whoops.

Well, technically you are correct: The place is certainly hidden in an unremarkable building in Norwood and is subject to a fair degree of security in terms of getting in. And any of the several traffic controllers in there can, I believe, change the lights at any given location that they see fit in order to ease congestion. I honestly can't remember how tall the traffic controllers were but, by the law of averages, I'd say that there must be at least one of them could be described as "little" too.

So I reckon you win the bet!

Whoever is in charge needs to be sacked

[heater31]

This may sound ridiculous, but...

I always thought that somewhere in Adelaide exists a man in a room where he can see all the major intersections on a TV or computer or something. .

YES. There is. Now I don't know who he is, but WHOEVER it is, he hates me with a passion, because everytime he sees me coming up the Sudholz Road hill, he will, without fail, turn the light red at the top of the hill (at the school) SO CLOSE TO HOME.

Alternately, if I'm driving down Danby Avenue (same intersection), he will ensure that I wait at those lights for at LEAST 5 minutes before stopping the people driving on Sudholz Road.

He also does this to me at every opportunity at the intersection of North East and Wandana, and also the Walkleys Road, Sir Ross Smith (or whatever bloody road that is) in Oakden.

Ugh.

He also is the one that ignores your pleas for the pedestrian crossing signals to change

[Squawk]

Yes, as others have said it's true. Like Fish, I've been there also.

The lights are programmed to adjust to the volumes of traffic in every direction, and accordingly they adjust their time periods for flow. They can also do things like monitor the Birkenhead Bride, the Heysen Tunnels, etc and when the Queen or Donald Rumsfeld visit, give green lights all the way from the airport to the city for security and dignitary protection requirements.

In the city, there are "relays" for the MFS. In those cases, the comms centre pushes the button. Beyond the CBD, the phone call occurs.

Although this facility is available to all emergency services it is the MFS who use it the most. Ambos rarely use it - they prefer driving on the other side of the road and blazing through red lights

Also, the centre is Norwood is where all the traffic updates are broadcast from - Sunrise, Radio stations, etc. It's not a little man pretending he is in a helicopter by banging his chest while he speaks.

[Bully]

like brisbanes traffic centre. View the video cameras LIVE here - www.131940.com.au