[PLUG-TALK] Not even Seattle traffic is this bad!

Keith Lofstrom keithl at gate.kl-ic.com
Fri Apr 25 13:40:16 UTC 2014


On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 10:10:40AM -0700, Rich Shepard wrote:
>   Some folks complain about driving in Portland (with reason, to be sure),
> and others are upset with the Interstate on-ramp lights. But, for a
> completely different perspective, watch these short videos about city
> intersections around the world where there are no traffic lights. Quite
> illuminating!

There are no traffic lights because if by some miracle money was set 
aside for buying traffic lights, operating them, repairing them, and
powering them, it would all end up in the pockets of corrupt
bureaucrats.  These places do not have safe water, good sanitation,
and 24x7 electricity for the same reason.  Those are more important.
Traffic lights on randomly available 12x5 power aren't very useful.

Transistors are getting cheaper very fast.   With enough cheap onboard
electronics, the cars can talk to each other and negotiate who goes 
next.  The pedestrians will carry electronics to guide them through 
the maze, and provide documentation after an injury or fatality that
will create expensive trouble for the drivers who hit them.

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com



More information about the PLUG-talk mailing list