The reason why traffic lights are always out in Joburg - Theft and vandalism

[xera]

What about trying a Diverging Diamond Interchange? From what I understand, it could significantly reduce traffic, and also reduces the amount of possible collisions spots from 32 down until 14!!!

 

[supersunbird]

This article does nothing to explain why the problem of non-working traffic lights is so much worse in Joburg than it is in Cape Town. Cape Town also has the same problems with theft and vandalism, yet the problem is so much worse in Joburg than it is in Cape Town. The excuse about rain bringing the lights down too don't make sense when you consider how much rain Cape Town gets in the winter and yet the lights don't go down.

They didn't bring it up as an excuse, I am the one who brought it up, was just mentioning how many fail when it rains up here.

 

[supersunbird]

What about trying a Diverging Diamond Interchange? From what I understand, it could significantly reduce traffic, and also reduces the amount of possible collisions spots from 32 down until 14!!!

We have one here in PTA at N1/Zambezi road, obviously only usable at big interchanges, because there is no way you could use that at most intersections.

 

[xera]

We have one here in PTA at N1/Zambezi road, obviously only usable at big interchanges, because there is no way you could use that at most intersections.

Shot, I had forgotten about that, actually drove through it some years ago and was a bit surprised at first!
Yes, that is pretty obvious and should be self explanatory.

 

[wingnut771]

What about trying a Diverging Diamond Interchange? From what I understand, it could significantly reduce traffic, and also reduces the amount of possible collisions spots from 32 down until 14!!!

Don't you need working traffic lights for that?

 

[hj007]

This article does nothing to explain why the problem of non-working traffic lights is so much worse in Joburg than it is in Cape Town. Cape Town also has the same problems with theft and vandalism, yet the problem is so much worse in Joburg than it is in Cape Town. The excuse about rain bringing the lights down too don't make sense when you consider how much rain Cape Town gets in the winter and yet the lights don't go down.

It's clearly because of the Western Cape being near the sea! Oh and all the other countries that don't have this issue are also close to the sea. Joburg is the only city that sits on a dry plateau at this elevation and sometimes the traffic lights get light headed.

 

[Yskasmetnstoof]

In other words South Africa is sliding into the sheethole.

All of the above to be honest.

In my area, they frequently stop working when it rains, but then they have also been replaced twice in the last year after being cut down.

My dad works in Benrose. They have stopped installing traffic lights near the hostels because they are cut down within days. Traffic lights were replaced by stop signs. Then they stole the stop signs, so now it is a lucky packet when you drive through parts of Benrose, people just make up the rules of the road as they go.

Most of the traffic lights along the backroads heading past the old mine dumps on the way to the Jo'burg CBD have been cut down/are routinely cut down.

Jhb used to have police. Even Traffic Police. Now only stupid thugs.

 

[Yskasmetnstoof]

I'm a big fan of traffic circles (or roundabouts). If I was a city planner I'd replace all the big traffic light intersections with traffic circles. They are proven to be much more efficient and safer than traffic lights, plus the added bonus of almost zero maintenance costs or infrastructure.

Stream heavy traffic into one from 4 directions and check again.

 

[LCBXX]

Lack of crime intelligence, effective policing and corruption is causing this.

 

[j4ck455]

A commonly-targeted component of traffic light systems is the UPS systems which provide them with backup power in the event of a power failure or load-shedding.

What UPS systems? I have never come across any traffic lights at any Joburg intersections that have ever had UPS power during loadshitting since that started circa 2007/2008.

The JRA told MyBroadband that the primary cause of traffic light outages in Johannesburg was related to power loss.

It said that 40%-50% of traffic light outages were power-related.

Profound realisation there

Which part Johannesburg? My area's traffic light are mostly working, if they do fail they are fixed promptly. City Power has also been up to the task lately, fixing and installing new street lights. Road agency is also not doing bad.

More than 1km in any direction away from Luthuli House?

 

[boboudts]

"We just can't have nice things" in this sick amoral country!