Motorcycle & Automobile Q & A Forum

Are all yellow lights the same duration?

No. But there are similarities in the durations from one situation to another. Yellow lights in residential areas where the speed limit is 25-30 MPH are considerably shorter than yellow traffic signals that are placed where two state highways with 65 MPH speed limits are placed. The cars traveling at 65 will need more distance to safely slow to a stop. There are some formulas used to get basic settings, but after that they are tuned to the specific intersection.

My son has a school project/problem about magnets. If I have two identical objects, one is a magnet and one is iron, how do I identify the magnet?

Since you have not said what the shape of the objects is, they could be spheres or horseshoes, or discs… The only way I know of to be absolutely positive is to separate the two items and break one of them into two pieces. If you break a 1,000 Gauss magnet into two pieces, you’ll have two 1,000 Gauss magnets – but the poles will instantly reverse upon breaking and the half-shelf life will reduce. Now, take the two broken pieces and get them close to each other and observe the reactions, or lack thereof. If they attract and repel each other depending on their orientation, then you have the magnet. If they do not react to each other, you have the iron.

There are several states now making the laws so that when vehicles don’t get detected by traffic light systems, the vehicle can just proceed. Do you just treat it like a stop sign?

No, not at all. You should check each states laws as they vary, but essentially they say that if you wait long enough without getting a green light, you can proceed safely through the intersection in spite of the light being red. Usually, you have to wait for the light to cycle once without getting green – which is anywhere from 4-7 minutes, and sometimes longer. The biggest problem this has created is that if policeman comes along after you’ve been sitting there waiting for 6 minutes, and he only sees you riding through the red light at the intersection and stops you, he will likely ticket you and you’ll have to [try] to explain your way out of it at court.

What does “anisotropic” mean for magnets?

Anisotropic describes a magnet that possesses a predominate direction of magnetic orientation. This allows for a sort of ‘directional’ application of magnets. The magnetic characteristics of anisotropic magnets are optimum in the preferred direction. Magnets used to construct traffic light changers should be anisotropic.

Can I make it through a whole line of timed red lights without getting stopped by a red one?

Yes, in a perfect world that’s possible. What usually happens in light strings such as you mention is that you will get 3-4 of them on green, and then get caught in a red, then a few more green, and so on depending on the length of the traffic light string. The detection systems are turned off during certain hours and the traffic signal lights are timed using formulas for traffic engineers. What cannot be computed is driver lag time – the time between car #1 accelerating away from a red light and car #2, then #3, and so forth. I’m sure you’ve been behind people who let 100′ of space come between them and the vehicle in front of them before they start out. The link below is to a site which has lots of traffic signal information, and they sell a legal everywhere traffic light changer – I have one on each of my vehicles – very cool – especially on my motorcycles. I hope this helps you out.

When you push the pedestrian crossing traffic light button, does the traffic light change faster?

In a manner of speaking, yes. If you don’t push it, and there is absolutely no traffic or other pedestrian to push it, it will not change at all. The button notifies the control box that the light needs to be cycled. If you are there at 2 AM and the streets are desolate, it will change almost instantly (set for “no delay”). If you push it during busy traffic times, it likely will not make any difference at all as cars are already there alerting the inductive loop sensors (or other lesser used sensing systems) to the presence of traffic, and the need for the light to cycle. The light’s cycling time is preset, and based on traffic flow for certain time increments, usually in equal 30-second blocks.

Can traffic light changers, motorcycle traffic light signal changers, or traffic light trippers interfere with the function of a radar detector?

No, not at all. Radar detectors do not rely on magnetics to work. Traffic light changers, motorcycle traffic light signal changers and triggers for green lights do not emit any radar frequency signals. (This answer is not relative to the M.I.R.T.)

Will a traffic light changer, motorcycle traffic light signal changer, or traffic light tripper cause interference or static in my motorcycle’s on-board communications system?

No. Properly constructed and installed traffic light changers, motorcycle traffic light signal changers and triggers for green lights do not generate nearly enough of a field to cause problems with your on-board communications systems. If you have static in your headsets, it is likely caused by some electronic interference on your bike. There are inexpensive, easy to install devices available at electronics stores such as Radio Shack to help with this. (This answer is not relative to the M.I.R.T.)

Can a traffic light changer, motorcycle traffic light signal changer, or traffic light tripper interfere with my motorcycle’s electronic fuel injection system?

If the unit is properly constructed and properly installed, no – it will not interfere with your electronic fuel delivery or handling systems. Traffic light changers, motorcycle traffic light signal changers and triggers for green lights are installed on the lowest place on the motorcycle, and therefore are substantially too far away from fuel system electronics to cause any effect at all. (This answer is not relative to the M.I.R.T.)

Are traffic light changers and motorcycle traffic light signal changers legal everywhere?

Yes – so long as the term is not being incorrectly used to describe an M.I.R.T. Traffic light changers and motorcycle traffic light signal changers are constructed of either magnetic or high-iron content steel(s), or a combination of the two things together in a single unit.