Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sfsup.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!mhuxm!sftig!sfsup!jeffj
From: jeffj@sfsup.UUCP (J.S.Jonas)
Newsgroups: net.analog,net.auto
Subject: Re: Car Detectors
Message-ID: <250@sfsup.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-May-86 10:20:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: sfsup.250
Posted: Wed May  7 10:20:57 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 9-May-86 10:27:06 EDT
References: <2974@watvlsi.UUCP> <4839@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU> <992@kitty.UUCP> <4347@srcsip.UUCP> <986@masscomp.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Summit N.J.
Lines: 40
Xref: watmath net.analog:808 net.auto:10387

> In article <4347@srcsip.UUCP> williams@srcsip.UUCP (Susan Williams) writes:
>  [will it be used for]
> 55 mph speed limit compliance?
> 		Hank Cohen

	I took a tour of the Sperry plant in Great Neck, NY where
they were testing the Long Island Expressway/Northern State Parkway/
Grand Central Parkway/and neighboring streets traffic control system.
The traffic sensors, message boards and traffic lights around the
major roads are all coordinated by the system.  In the main
control room, there is a big map
of the roads with indicators all over.  CRT readouts give average
speed and traffic density.
	The idea is that a traffic jams can be detected and traffic
can be diverted by warning motorists miles ahead with the message signs
(which are on the highways and entrances).  The traffic signals
on the neighboring streets can be modified to handle the increased
that use some local roads between the two).
	The signals are carried by buried cables along the highways,
unlike another system (in Washington DC I recall) where telephone
lines were used.  The buried cables have a higher initial cost,
but the maintenance costs are less than the telephone lines.
The telephone based system was shut down because leasing the lines
became too expensive.
	The entire system should soon be in place and operating.
I wish the operators well, and hope the system lives up to its
expectations.

			Jeff 'still a Long Islander at heart' Skot
			{ihnp4 | allegra | abosgd} attunix ! jeffj

PS: Even if your speed can be detected by the sensors, you can't get
a ticket because a person has to witness the crime, or something
to do with an officer observing the crime.  This is why
the New Jersey Turnpike doesn't give you a speeding ticket based on your
travel time.
The toll ticket you get when you enter the Turnpike has the time
on it, so if you arrive at your destination too early, it's obvious
that you went >55 MPH, but legal complications don't allow them to
ticket you (i.e.:What if the clocks are incorrect?)