Comments on: ‘…and I want to paint it black…’ http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/ Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:08:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jon http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-11058 Jon Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:21:43 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-11058 Horizontal is probably used when overpasses obstruct the view. Horizontal is probably used when overpasses obstruct the view.

]]> By: Lyndell http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-7707 Lyndell Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:42:27 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-7707 Cleverly after Ike, some locations in Houston put up temp stop signs at unpowered intersections. Cleverly after Ike, some locations in Houston put up temp stop signs at unpowered intersections.

]]> By: Larry Robinson http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-7455 Larry Robinson Tue, 26 May 2009 04:55:40 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-7455 Black and other dark colors are wrong for signal heads. In a power failure at night, dark colors hide the fact that a traffic light is present. Black and other dark colors are wrong for signal heads. In a power failure at night, dark colors hide the fact that a traffic light is present.

]]> By: Mrs. Davis http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6546 Mrs. Davis Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:24:35 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6546 This is a great human factors question. I cannot find any evidence that there is a preference for either direction other than user expectation. Horizontal lights seem to be prevalent in TX, WI and FL. One reason advanced for horizontals is that when they are attached to an arm they provide less wind resistance. But it is hard to believe that the additional wind resistance of the fixture would have a significant impact on the masts they build these days. There are standards for light placement and I believe the red went on the left in the horizontal. What was interesting was lights in Quebec where not only color, but lens shape indicated the signal, round, red, stop; amber, diamond, caution; greed, square, go. This is a great human factors question. I cannot find any evidence that there is a preference for either direction other than user expectation. Horizontal lights seem to be prevalent in TX, WI and FL.

One reason advanced for horizontals is that when they are attached to an arm they provide less wind resistance. But it is hard to believe that the additional wind resistance of the fixture would have a significant impact on the masts they build these days.

There are standards for light placement and I believe the red went on the left in the horizontal. What was interesting was lights in Quebec where not only color, but lens shape indicated the signal, round, red, stop; amber, diamond, caution; greed, square, go.

]]> By: Eric http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6492 Eric Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:29:35 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6492 I first noticed horizontal traffic lights when I visited Miami, FL. I figured that it was to secure the traffic light better to the horizontal pole and reduce the air "footprint", because Florida is subjected to high winds during hurricanes. If the light just dangled there, it would catch more wind and be secured only at one end. I first noticed horizontal traffic lights when I visited Miami, FL. I figured that it was to secure the traffic light better to the horizontal pole and reduce the air “footprint”, because Florida is subjected to high winds during hurricanes. If the light just dangled there, it would catch more wind and be secured only at one end.

]]> By: MikeOnBike http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6409 MikeOnBike Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:28:34 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6409 Does it always go left, or sometimes go right? Is a horizontal shift as obvious, or meaningful, as a vertical one? Does it always go left, or sometimes go right? Is a horizontal shift as obvious, or meaningful, as a vertical one?

]]> By: Mase http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6406 Mase Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:04:57 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6406 The positional information is also conveyed horizontally; as the light switches from green to yellow to red, it goes to the left. Not sure vertical is, over time, an inherent benefit. The positional information is also conveyed horizontally; as the light switches from green to yellow to red, it goes to the left. Not sure vertical is, over time, an inherent benefit.

]]> By: MikeOnBike http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6405 MikeOnBike Fri, 06 Mar 2009 18:40:32 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6405 With vertical lights, both the color and the position indicate the meaning. As the light switches from green to yellow to read, it also goes up. With vertical lights, both the color and the position indicate the meaning. As the light switches from green to yellow to read, it also goes up.

]]> By: Mase http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6403 Mase Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:18:27 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6403 At least here in Houston, most traffic lights are black, not yellow. One particular quirk of Texas for traffic lights is that they are mounted horizontally, not vertically. Is there a reason vertical is the norm? Is it just custom or is there an inherent benefit to vertical vs. horizontal? At least here in Houston, most traffic lights are black, not yellow. One particular quirk of Texas for traffic lights is that they are mounted horizontally, not vertically. Is there a reason vertical is the norm? Is it just custom or is there an inherent benefit to vertical vs. horizontal?

]]> By: Bossi http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/03/05/and-i-want-to-paint-it-black/#comment-6390 Bossi Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:24:30 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=683#comment-6390 Black signal heads are an increasingly common trend throughout the country -- including states in the northeast. They really do make an impressive difference when combined with LED indications. Black signal heads are an increasingly common trend throughout the country — including states in the northeast. They really do make an impressive difference when combined with LED indications.

]]>