Why do traffic lights not work when it rains

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I have always just accepted that traffic lights will be out when it rains..
But why? I dont understand why the rain would affect them at all?

Anyone know? Because its unbelievably annoying that everytime it rains, i spend 2 hours trying to get home because the traffic lights are out
 
Maybe its coz of the illegal electricity connections... Whilst you driving without traffic lights, some oke is watchin TV at taxpayer's expense....
 
broken1 said:
They are supposed to be waterproof, but aren't. Electronics <> Water
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Then they wouldnt flash red, they would be off completely?
I have also seen a burst water pipe near the brightwater commons, the water literally flooded the bottom of the road and most certainly the bottom of the traffic light. No issue,
It drizzles, the lights go out.

Its a sick joke, i am sure
 
completely uneducated guess....

water causes short due to poor installation, short causes power to lights to trip (do they have an equivalent of our tripswitches at home?), as soon as things dry up the switch is flicked and boom, lights back on...
 
tau1z said:
Then they wouldnt flash red, they would be off completely?
I have also seen a burst water pipe near the brightwater commons, the water literally flooded the bottom of the road and most certainly the bottom of the traffic light. No issue,
It drizzles, the lights go out.

Its a sick joke, i am sure
Click to expand...

That could be the answer...
 
What ever happened to the solar lights idea?
 
Don't worry, we are getting a space program. Just as soon as we can figure out how to make traffic lights stay on we should be able to conquer the universe.
 
It’s those controller boxes that is as good as a sieve!

Yes... As soon as they can fix that they should be able to fix world hunger and poverty!
 
Seventh world standards employed in this country when it comes to maintenance for roads, verges, traffic lights, signage, etc. In Ireland where rain is more common than sunshine, lights never go out.

Another irk I have, why does it take weeks to fix the traffic lights after they go out? :mad:
 
tau1z said:
I have always just accepted that traffic lights will be out when it rains..
But why? I dont understand why the rain would affect them at all?

Anyone know? Because its unbelievably annoying that everytime it rains, i spend 2 hours trying to get home because the traffic lights are out
Click to expand...

have you thought about taking a different route to home and via work? :whistle:
 
Nokkie said:
have you thought about taking a different route to home and via work? :whistle:
Click to expand...

via work?
english...do u speak it?

There are only so many routes into town from fourways. When there is rain, they are all screwded
 
tau1z said:
I have always just accepted that traffic lights will be out when it rains..
But why? I dont understand why the rain would affect them at all?
Click to expand...

Unless I wasn't noticing but it seems to me 5 - 10 yrs ago it wasn't a common problem and we still had rain. Maybe something has deteriorated just like many of our roads which easily form potholes during rainy seasons.
 
Rosaudio said:
Traffic lights don't work in the rain? :wtf: Where do you live?
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jozi, travel from town cbd to fourways area.
Just listen to the traffic report next time, the amount of traffic lights out probably doubles when it rains.
We just accept it as common place, but yesterday i lost over 2 hours of my life because of this.
And there is no reason why i should have
 
Yet somehow in northern hemisphere countries with more rain and snow the traffic lights just keep on working...
 
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