SignalTraffic Forums

I've been looking around the big cities of Australia recently on GSV - mainly Canberra/ACT, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.

First off are these funky louvred set ups, with a horizontally mounted green section underslung from the R-Y section in Adelaide!

Theseare some more louvred signals, this time in Sydney. Interesting to note the angle of the signals, something which I've noticed in several places around Sydney where louvres are used - I assume to further limit their field of view.

This one kills two birds with one stone... Interesting to note the use of Box louvres similar to those that are installed in the UK - something I've not seen anywhere else. Another thing to note here is the consolidation of traffic signal and railway crossing equipment onto the same columns. Something which doesn't generally happen here in the UK, and from what I've seen, not common in the US either - I think it looks very neat and tidy! As a side note, some Wig-Wags are also flat and LED which is cool

The use of red arrows to delay turning traffic is a great idea too, in my opinion! Obviously, set up in the opposite manner to an early release left/right turn.

Other observations -
Backing boards with borders - Vic doesn't seem to like them much!
I had noticed quite a lot of left turn early release filters in Melbourne didn't have a dedicated lane - do people normally just leave that lane for left turns or does it get blocked by straight ahead traffic?
Not sure if its the same for all of the Northern Territory, but they seem to use exclusively 12" vehicular heads. I only really had a quick look around Darwin.


If anyone has anything to add, of course feel free!

Very Unique!!!!

What's the point to only limiting the field of view of the green?

If it's not yellow or red, it must be green, or off, either way, I don't necessarily need to see the green...

Because the danger lies with people jumping a near-field red signal when they see the far signal go green. There isn't really a need to limit the red or amber, as its not dangerous - the only impact it would have is if a vehicle stopped at a near-field green, because they could see a red at the next signal, which would effect the efficiency of the green time.

Some interesting finds there Simon. I'd not seen most of those kinds of set-ups before. the limited sight greens are not something I've seen much before in Victoria. These older ones photographed at St Kilda, Vic being the only ones I recall seeing. I'd assumed at the time that it was due to them facing the setting sun, but realise now it's to prevent drivers at a preceding stop line looking at the wrong lights.
http://www.signspotters.hobbiesplus.com.au/PC130034ce.jpg

The box visors on the level crossing are normally used on pedestrian signals. I'd never seen them on vehicular signals before now.
Traffic signal lanterns on the same columns as railway crossing equipment is common in Australia. Usually where a railway crossing is close to an intersection. The one you linked to in Adelaide appears to be for a walking / cycling path that parallels the railway.

The white borders on target boards do seem to have spread around Australia - except in Victoria. I think it started in New South Wales. Curiously now even railway signals in Melbourne have white borders. But not the traffic signals. I gather it is to make them more conspicuous when they are not working. In NSW, Stop signs are always used on signalised intersections that apply when the signals fail. In Victoria the rule is Give Way to the Right when signals fail.

As for those "left turn early release filters". Well that's not quite how they work. The amber and green left turn arrows are wired to the right turn arrows on the street to the left. It just allows any traffic that was turning left to do so safely when traffic in the side street has a green right arrow. Providing there's no vehicles in the left lane that are going straight ahead of course.
Normally a slip lane is provided for left turns at traffic signals. But where there is no room to provide a slip lane, these left 'over' arrows are provided. It can be quite annoying wanting to turn left at a green arrow and being prevented by one car in the way. So these have to be considered "bonus" arrows. Frequently they are on corners with petrol stations on them. So the petrol station driveways tend to be used as defacto slip lanes.

Have never been to NT, but I've been told that everything there is 12" / 300mm signals. It seems that NT drivers can't see 8" lights.

Hume Highway looks remarkably like American sprawl.

SirMarbelot wrote:Hume Highway looks remarkably like American sprawl.

I'd have to agree with you on that one. Mirror the image so that the traffic is on the other side of the road, and hang the signals above each lane, and it would look remarkably similar.