Where have the traffic signal countdown indicators disappeared

onelife · 25th March 2010, 15:54

Did anyone notice that in the last few months, the countdown indicators at traffic lights in Mumbai have disappeared. Does anyone know the logic behind it? I have been driving for last few days (driver on leave) and hence realised this. Its quite strange since the traffic department at one end is encouraging fuel saving measures and in fact has an ad that asks motorists to switch off their vehicles at signals. The thumb rule is that if you are going to wait a signal for more than a minute, than only it is worth switching off your car (else the startup of car burns more fuel than you save by putting it off). now without the countdown indicators, it is really difficult to know how long you are going to wait at the signal.

GTO · 25th March 2010, 22:59

Now that you mention it, yes, the RTO seemed to have pulled back the countdown indicators. Personally, my observation was that it made drivers more patient. You know you have another minute to go, instead of staring at the traffic light & waiting for the green. I personally found the "countdown to red" immensely helpful too i.e. the time left (before light turns red) tells you whether to drive through, or come to a safe gradual stop.

Hadn't the RTO introduced them on a trial basis? Will be interesting to know exactly why they decided to withdraw.

vj_carLover · 25th March 2010, 23:08

GTO,

Not to sound pessimistic, atleast in chennai, I have seen that, impatient motorists, typically "aim" their vehicles in high speed, all the time keeping an eye on the decrementing counter - without seeing where they ought to be seeing, the other side of traffic.

and guess the great idea, to cross the other side before the counter reaches zero. Are they assistants to Adbul Kalam, and tasked with delivering the key to the next ICBM, eh ?

So IMHO, chennai police retracted at many key junctions, at least that made people cautious - a little at least.

Alas, if it were as easy at it sounds..

Cheers

prateekm · 25th March 2010, 23:14

I agree that timers are very good, but I have seen many people even misuse it. If there are 3 junctions at a signal, a person from one junction will just vroom off (especially bikers) between the gap of 3 secs. Also, people assume that it's green 5 secs before it actually turns green. Had a fight with my friend for misusing in the same manner.

Avinash_R · 25th March 2010, 23:33

Its not just in mumbai guys, in blr too i have seen, most of them are gone. It was a good move having them but nowadays, I dont see them at all.

PM - B · 25th March 2010, 23:45

The same is at Bangalore, Most of the countdown timers do not work. I had an opportunity to ask one of the Traffic Inspector and he mentioned that the timers work erratically and the cost to much to maintain and hence are being discontinued. BEL is supposed to look after the same.

ghodlur · 26th March 2010, 08:09

The situation is same in Thane too. A no of junctions had the countdown indicators which have totally stopped working and the result is people dont even wait till the lights go green. Evenwhen the indicators were working people used to take off with 15-20 secs still left for the indicators to go green. The impatience levels have further increased. Earlier people atleast used to wait at the crossing line when the indicators were on and now they wait half way through the signal area

.

aargee · 26th March 2010, 08:22

The count down timer is very convenient to me, helps me to shut off the engine if my wait time is more than 10-15 seconds & helps me start just when its around 2 seconds to green.

Like somebody says, yes I too speed up when the seconds are less, but not at the cost of looking at the timer, I keep counting down the seconds within me, but I still watch out & WILL NEVER rush up when I see amber. Had a good experience several years back before all these timers, was knocked down by another two wheeler guy when I was crossing the signal at amber; that moron rushed up before his Green signal & thus I learnt my lesson to watch out.

But, Thanks this is Chennai & thankfully the timers are not withdrawn still; I could sometimes see them not working which is different, but majority of them are still working.

OT - Why didn't the govt opt to use solar powered count down timers or implement new signals with solar power?

Spitfire · 26th March 2010, 12:40

Problem is the technology does not consider the IQ levels of the drivers.

Here in Bangalore people start moving or honking insanely when 10 secs are left.

I am happy they are going out. Not because I dont find them useful but because the people who are using them are not that bright for them.

rx2389 · 26th March 2010, 12:43

The count down timers have also disappeared from most of Delhi as well. I too believe they are pretty useful for the motorists. Wish these are reinstated.

Satya79 · 26th March 2010, 13:57

On the balance, these were positive. I think it made drivers a little more patient, plus removed the need for unnecessary acceleration to beat the red light.
It was also a boon to pedestrians and the elderly crossing the road, who could at least time their crossing safely.
And with the timers...hah..you could give a piece of your mind those impatient honkers.

mpksuhas · 26th March 2010, 16:54

Yes, true as many said in Bangalore also I have noticed it has disappeared from some places. I had read it few years back when the timers were introduced in Delhi that pollution levels at signals with timers came down since motorists used to switch off their vehicles. This I feel is great plus considering the higly polluted air in most/ all of our metro's and compare it to the price of maintaining an LED timer I guess its really stupid move to remove it.

vikrantj · 26th March 2010, 17:31

The countdown timers have disappeared in Mumbai/Bangalore and magically re-appeared in Pune on majority of traffic signal. This I have noticed for the past couple of months.

--Vikrant

Mustang.101 · 26th March 2010, 17:44

In delhi & noida these counters just get stolen at 3 AM in the night, I have seen them being stolen by 2 thugs who got a ladder with them & were trying to steal the counter one night @ 2:30 AM

rjalihal · 26th March 2010, 17:55

They still have a few timers in Bangalore left over. They were useful, but like what some here said, drivers would start honking with 10 secs left on the timer was really annoying. In that way, its good they removed it. We Indians honk for everything. It's like a sign of joy and celebration if you ask me!

25th March 2010, 15:54	#1
onelife BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Mumbai Posts: 34 Thanked: 7 Times	Where have the traffic signal countdown indicators disappeared Did anyone notice that in the last few months, the countdown indicators at traffic lights in Mumbai have disappeared. Does anyone know the logic behind it? I have been driving for last few days (driver on leave) and hence realised this. Its quite strange since the traffic department at one end is encouraging fuel saving measures and in fact has an ad that asks motorists to switch off their vehicles at signals. The thumb rule is that if you are going to wait a signal for more than a minute, than only it is worth switching off your car (else the startup of car burns more fuel than you save by putting it off). now without the countdown indicators, it is really difficult to know how long you are going to wait at the signal.
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 22:59	#2
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 71,830 Thanked: 321,537 Times View My Garage	Now that you mention it, yes, the RTO seemed to have pulled back the countdown indicators. Personally, my observation was that it made drivers more patient. You know you have another minute to go, instead of staring at the traffic light & waiting for the green. I personally found the "countdown to red" immensely helpful too i.e. the time left (before light turns red) tells you whether to drive through, or come to a safe gradual stop. Hadn't the RTO introduced them on a trial basis? Will be interesting to know exactly why they decided to withdraw.
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 23:08	#3
vj_carLover BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 38 Thanked: Once	GTO, Not to sound pessimistic, atleast in chennai, I have seen that, impatient motorists, typically "aim" their vehicles in high speed, all the time keeping an eye on the decrementing counter - without seeing where they ought to be seeing, the other side of traffic. and guess the great idea, to cross the other side before the counter reaches zero. Are they assistants to Adbul Kalam, and tasked with delivering the key to the next ICBM, eh ? So IMHO, chennai police retracted at many key junctions, at least that made people cautious - a little at least. Alas, if it were as easy at it sounds.. Cheers
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 23:14	#4
prateekm BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Mumbai & BLR Posts: 789 Thanked: 555 Times	I agree that timers are very good, but I have seen many people even misuse it. If there are 3 junctions at a signal, a person from one junction will just vroom off (especially bikers) between the gap of 3 secs. Also, people assume that it's green 5 secs before it actually turns green. Had a fight with my friend for misusing in the same manner.
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 23:33	#5
Avinash_R BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 406 Thanked: 1,264 Times	Its not just in mumbai guys, in blr too i have seen, most of them are gone. It was a good move having them but nowadays, I dont see them at all.
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 23:45	#6
PM - B BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 216 Thanked: 327 Times	The same is at Bangalore, Most of the countdown timers do not work. I had an opportunity to ask one of the Traffic Inspector and he mentioned that the timers work erratically and the cost to much to maintain and hence are being discontinued. BEL is supposed to look after the same.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 08:09	#7
ghodlur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 6,232 Thanked: 4,722 Times View My Garage	The situation is same in Thane too. A no of junctions had the countdown indicators which have totally stopped working and the result is people dont even wait till the lights go green. Evenwhen the indicators were working people used to take off with 15-20 secs still left for the indicators to go green. The impatience levels have further increased. Earlier people atleast used to wait at the crossing line when the indicators were on and now they wait half way through the signal area.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 08:22	#8
aargee Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: TSTN Posts: 6,354 Thanked: 10,053 Times	The count down timer is very convenient to me, helps me to shut off the engine if my wait time is more than 10-15 seconds & helps me start just when its around 2 seconds to green. Like somebody says, yes I too speed up when the seconds are less, but not at the cost of looking at the timer, I keep counting down the seconds within me, but I still watch out & WILL NEVER rush up when I see amber. Had a good experience several years back before all these timers, was knocked down by another two wheeler guy when I was crossing the signal at amber; that moron rushed up before his Green signal & thus I learnt my lesson to watch out. But, Thanks this is Chennai & thankfully the timers are not withdrawn still; I could sometimes see them not working which is different, but majority of them are still working. OT - Why didn't the govt opt to use solar powered count down timers or implement new signals with solar power? Last edited by aargee : 26th March 2010 at 08:24.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 12:40	#9
Spitfire BANNED Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Panaji - Goa/Bangalore - Karnataka Posts: 3,313 Thanked: 778 Times	Problem is the technology does not consider the IQ levels of the drivers. Here in Bangalore people start moving or honking insanely when 10 secs are left. I am happy they are going out. Not because I dont find them useful but because the people who are using them are not that bright for them.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 12:43	#10
rx2389 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 68 Thanked: 14 Times	Countdown Timers at Delhi The count down timers have also disappeared from most of Delhi as well. I too believe they are pretty useful for the motorists. Wish these are reinstated.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 13:57	#11
Satya79 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 47 Thanked: 3 Times	Countdown timers On the balance, these were positive. I think it made drivers a little more patient, plus removed the need for unnecessary acceleration to beat the red light. It was also a boon to pedestrians and the elderly crossing the road, who could at least time their crossing safely. And with the timers...hah..you could give a piece of your mind those impatient honkers.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 16:54	#12
mpksuhas Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: KA03/KL11 Posts: 4,146 Thanked: 8,403 Times View My Garage	Yes, true as many said in Bangalore also I have noticed it has disappeared from some places. I had read it few years back when the timers were introduced in Delhi that pollution levels at signals with timers came down since motorists used to switch off their vehicles. This I feel is great plus considering the higly polluted air in most/ all of our metro's and compare it to the price of maintaining an LED timer I guess its really stupid move to remove it.
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 17:31	#13
vikrantj BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 629 Thanked: 591 Times	The countdown timers have disappeared in Mumbai/Bangalore and magically re-appeared in Pune on majority of traffic signal. This I have noticed for the past couple of months. --Vikrant
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 17:44	#14
Mustang.101 BANNED Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,316 Thanked: 233 Times View My Garage	In delhi & noida these counters just get stolen at 3 AM in the night, I have seen them being stolen by 2 thugs who got a ladder with them & were trying to steal the counter one night @ 2:30 AM
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 17:55	#15
rjalihal BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 714 Thanked: 102 Times	They still have a few timers in Bangalore left over. They were useful, but like what some here said, drivers would start honking with 10 secs left on the timer was really annoying. In that way, its good they removed it. We Indians honk for everything. It's like a sign of joy and celebration if you ask me!
	() Thanks