Until I drove around in Texas, I don't think I had ever seen traffic lights suspended from cables, only on poles, either on vertical poles, or cantilevered out from vertical poles. I'd also never seen them horizontal before either. I'm not from the US, but have visited and worked in quite a few countries - admittedly not documenting every type of traffic light, but these differences caught my attention at the time.
I would prefer the vertical orientation only because all the colors will remain centered over the lane. However, I can see where the high winds can have such an impact that horizontal is the better solution in some areas of the country. Did you talk to someone at the Texas Department of Transportation for an official answer?
Heya Ellie! You will find those those types of horizontal street signals in Quebec a lot. I have seen them particularly in Montreal and in Gatineau. I had no idea they were also in Texas!
I think the Horizontal ones are similar to what Europe uses. So when it comes to Vertical or Horizontal might be more question which is better for Autonomous vehicles. Now as a human driver Vertical is preferred in certain lightning conditions especially when the Sun starts to Set to can try to fix sun shade to block sun but still see the Green.
I bet it's going to come down to cost. It would cost a lot more to put in a light standard and hang the light like you are used to seeing, than it would to run a cable between two wooden poles.
That is irrelevant to the vertical/horizontal question. Both configurations can be found mounted on metal standards and both can be found suspended from wires.
Random but so true! Aesthetically, I'm in the vertical fan club. Functionally, I don't have a preference. I have observed both scenarios all over the U.S. Haha, totally Ellie Vated! Luv this stuff.
Just moved to Texas from NY where I spent 20 years as a limo driver (seen alot of traffic lights) and these Texas lights still trip me up. I just don’t see them as fast as horizontal lights cause in a car I have to look all the way up, But in a tractor trailer no problem.
Calgary Canada has horizontal traffic lights just like that... Germany all the lights are vertical... the lights turn yellow just before they turn green!
Texas has one of the world largest, busiest, and major marine shipping hubs in the Houston Ship Channel. This means lots of good and products and shipped overland to and from the port. This also means the state and.interstate trucks must b able to pass under the freeway and highway overpasses. This is where the street lights come in. It a loaded truck cannot pass under the horizontal stop lights, without hitting it/them, then it like is too high to pass through a transportation underpass and take the shortest route ... through the city. This concept also holds for goods being delivered in the city. No some underpasses have a higher or lower clearance. So the driver must be aware of which route/streets he can drive on.
On that street they are temporary If you look the stress are new and the infrastructure for the pole lights is on the floor already same thing is done in Illinois it’s just till construction is done
Horizontal works best if you want to replicate the famed Caltech prank of swapping the red and green lenses to snarl traffic. In reality, all the Caltech students did was swap some wires in the control box to change which street got the longest green light, but it was popularly reported that they changed the lenses.
The question is, which ones do color blind people prefer? The one on top is always red, but is the one on the left red or green?? AHHHHH!! Quit honking at me!!!!!
state law in Texas has always been lights in the horizontal configuration have red on the left and lights in the vertical orientation have red at the top.
@@OldTrekkie23 It's looks like the same thing everywhere I've lived, but I've heard of places that have it the other way. Nothing I've seen for myself, though. I can say that vertically hanging lights swing around a LOT in hurricanes!
Yes this is the way Texans love it, most for y’all come from a democratic state. And want to change everything your way. If in isn’t broken don’t break it
But it is broken, it goes against principles of good design. Vertical signals are a lot easier for the human brain to distinguish by location without bringing colour into it. Don't ask me why, I'm a designer, not an anthropologist but that's just how it is. If you have enough wind to blow a set of traffic lights horizontal from vertical that will be the least of your problems, ever seen a set close up? Small or light they are not. It would also require wind directly in line with the axis of the lights to make it happen regardless of the wind velocity. The third reason is patently incorrect whch can be proven by using Google to find photos of early traffic signals, they are, without exception, vertical. Increased clearance is also moot, mount the buggers higher FFS!
I have no preference, just as long as they are green in the direction that I'm going.
downtown Cincinnati has the same, confused my color-blind father when he visited, had to call them out for him
Until I drove around in Texas, I don't think I had ever seen traffic lights suspended from cables, only on poles, either on vertical poles, or cantilevered out from vertical poles. I'd also never seen them horizontal before either. I'm not from the US, but have visited and worked in quite a few countries - admittedly not documenting every type of traffic light, but these differences caught my attention at the time.
I would prefer the vertical orientation only because all the colors will remain centered over the lane. However, I can see where the high winds can have such an impact that horizontal is the better solution in some areas of the country. Did you talk to someone at the Texas Department of Transportation for an official answer?
Heya Ellie! You will find those those types of horizontal street signals in Quebec a lot. I have seen them particularly in Montreal and in Gatineau. I had no idea they were also in Texas!
I think the Horizontal ones are similar to what Europe uses. So when it comes to Vertical or Horizontal might be more question which is better for Autonomous vehicles. Now as a human driver Vertical is preferred in certain lightning conditions especially when the Sun starts to Set to can try to fix sun shade to block sun but still see the Green.
Vertical for the sake of uniformity and I can’t believe I’m saying that.
I bet it's going to come down to cost. It would cost a lot more to put in a light standard and hang the light like you are used to seeing, than it would to run a cable between two wooden poles.
That is irrelevant to the vertical/horizontal question. Both configurations can be found mounted on metal standards and both can be found suspended from wires.
I've always thought it would be cool if traffic lights were three horizontal bars instead of three vertical circles. It would look so cyberpunk.
Here in FL I dont know how the stop lights stay attached and not go flying in a hurricane
Random but so true! Aesthetically, I'm in the vertical fan club. Functionally, I don't have a preference. I have observed both scenarios all over the U.S.
Haha, totally Ellie Vated! Luv this stuff.
Just moved to Texas from NY where I spent 20 years as a limo driver (seen alot of traffic lights) and these Texas lights still trip me up. I just don’t see them as fast as horizontal lights cause in a car I have to look all the way up, But in a tractor trailer no problem.
A lot of horizontal ones in Florida also I've noticed.
Calgary Canada has horizontal traffic lights just like that... Germany all the lights are vertical... the lights turn yellow just before they turn green!
Texas has one of the world largest, busiest, and major marine shipping hubs in the Houston Ship Channel. This means lots of good and products and shipped overland to and from the port. This also means the state and.interstate trucks must b able to pass under the freeway and highway overpasses. This is where the street lights come in. It a loaded truck cannot pass under the horizontal stop lights, without hitting it/them, then it like is too high to pass through a transportation underpass and take the shortest route ... through the city. This concept also holds for goods being delivered in the city.
No some underpasses have a higher or lower clearance. So the driver must be aware of which route/streets he can drive on.
Not fun for the colorblind!
🚦🕳🚦
🚥❌🚥
On that street they are temporary If you look the stress are new and the infrastructure for the pole lights is on the floor already same thing is done in Illinois it’s just till construction is done
Horizontal. Usually vertical when attached to a pole.
Horizontal works best if you want to replicate the famed Caltech prank of swapping the red and green lenses to snarl traffic. In reality, all the Caltech students did was swap some wires in the control box to change which street got the longest green light, but it was popularly reported that they changed the lenses.
I’m all for a fun good natured prank, but that could resulted in people being killed.
texas raised the hight requirement from 13.6' to 14'. This gives a little more room. I really don't care as long as they're green when I go through
what i hate is traffic signals with arrowss instead of regular lights
The question is, which ones do color blind people prefer? The one on top is always red, but is the one on the left red or green?? AHHHHH!! Quit honking at me!!!!!
state law in Texas has always been lights in the horizontal configuration have red on the left and lights in the vertical orientation have red at the top.
@@OldTrekkie23 It's looks like the same thing everywhere I've lived, but I've heard of places that have it the other way. Nothing I've seen for myself, though. I can say that vertically hanging lights swing around a LOT in hurricanes!
As long as the same rules apply, I’m fine. Green is go, red is stop and yellow is go faster!
the traffic lights are horizantal in Yakima.
Vertical light do get bounced around more in the wind. Either way is fine actually.
Only if they are hung like a swag lamp.
Please go back!!!! DONT CALIFORNIA MY TEXAS!!!!.....breaks my heart...
Yes this is the way Texans love it, most for y’all come from a democratic state. And want to change everything your way. If in isn’t broken don’t break it
I like to see green traffic lights. The red lights suck.
But it is broken, it goes against principles of good design. Vertical signals are a lot easier for the human brain to distinguish by location without bringing colour into it. Don't ask me why, I'm a designer, not an anthropologist but that's just how it is.
If you have enough wind to blow a set of traffic lights horizontal from vertical that will be the least of your problems, ever seen a set close up? Small or light they are not. It would also require wind directly in line with the axis of the lights to make it happen regardless of the wind velocity.
The third reason is patently incorrect whch can be proven by using Google to find photos of early traffic signals, they are, without exception, vertical.
Increased clearance is also moot, mount the buggers higher FFS!
Never seen any other type
I guess we should ask color blind people first??
No
What does it matter? You can't see anyway.