Surprise response as Aussies lament mistake at common road feature: 'Maybe it's you'

The technology can be found at nearly every traffic light in the state. But it seems not everyone knows how it works.

A car pictured over traffic light loops embedded in a Sydney road.
NSW Road Safety had a simple reminder for drivers ahead of the weekend. Source: Transport NSW

It's something most motorists should know, but a reminder from road authorities about a simple traffic feature has sparked some surprise responses. And it's revealed a common frustration among drivers.

There are few things more agitating than waiting for long periods of time at a red light. And there's a basic thing to remember to make sure you're not the problem.

"Ever feel like a red light is taking forever to turn green? Well… it might be you," the team at NSW Road Safety wrote to constituents on Friday.

The post, while in jest, revealed not everyone was aware of some of the technology giving them the green light.

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"Did you know sensors in the road detect vehicles waiting at stop signals?" the post continued.

"If you don’t pull far enough forward at the intersection, the sensor might not trigger the signal to turn green."

While road authorities use a patchwork of different technologies to manage and optimise traffic flow, there are sensors at more than 4,300 intersections in the state which work to adjust signals in real-time. That means almost all traffic lights in NSW are informed by the sensor technology.

"I thought it was timed not sensored," one person replied.

"I think A LOT of drivers don’t know this!" another claimed.

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It follows the same message from Transport NSW in December, which also prompted a deluge of comments from Aussies, with many expressing frustration about drivers who accidentally don't trigger the ground sensors.

"I thought this was a well know fact but it definitely isn't in my area. This needs to be advertised more widely, a lot of people stop just before the sensors. It's ridiculous," one person complained at the time.

"Many don't know this and stop far behind, making it a long time for the light to turn green. I like the camera monitoring since it easily turns on even for a small motorcycle," another said.

Studies have shown that motorists can spend anywhere between two to five days annually waiting at a red light. So it's no surprise we can get a bit impatient sometimes.

In response, the NSW Department of Transport had one simple bit of advice for everyone: "Definitely always pull right up to the line!"

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According to Transport NSW, the sensors – also known as traffic light loops – are often situated in the middle of the road and operate via a magnetic wave.

"When a car disrupts the wave, the signal detects that a car is at the lights. Sometimes bicycles do not trigger the loop to change the lights, simply because they do not contain as much metal as cars," it says.

A cyclist pictured stopped on the induction loop in a road in NSW.
A bike rider stopped on the induction loop in a road. Source: NSW Transport

So if you're on a motorbike or cycling and you're at the front of the line at a traffic light, especially at non peak times, it's best to position yourself in the middle of the road, just behind the white line in order to activate the metal sensor.

On Wednesday, South Australia's Department of Infrastructure and Transport issued a notice to drivers in the state, alerting them of a new set of 3D "dragon's teeth" road markings.

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Authorities said the markings are in place as part of a study being carried out by The University of Adelaide's Centre for Automotive Safety Research. 3D road markings are in place to create a visual illusion that grabs drivers' attention, encouraging them slow down in critical areas.

Fresh 'dragon's teeth' markings pictured in Adelaide.
Fresh 'dragon's teeth' markings have been laid in SA. Source: SA Infrastructure and Transport

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