"Shot clock crosswalks" (the ones that give a countdown before changing from 'walk' to 'don't walk') have recently been installed at all the intersections along my normal route to work. Since these things have been installed, I've increased the FE on my short commute to work by about 7 mpg (48 to 55 for an 8 mile trip). These things are great! Before I had to guess at when a light would turn red based on how long I thought it had been green. I now get a solid indication that I either need to start another pulse to get through the intersection or that I should just continue a glide down to speeds below my normal range. As a further bonus, it's possible that they're even useful for pedestrians!
For the lights that don't get replaced with proper roundabouts, downcount-timers would be great. Either would allow much better planning ahead, less guesswork, and significantly less hazard presented by those who are about to guess wrong. . _H*
Yeah here in the US Round a bouts confuse us... I know I can't speak for all of us... But in general they are rather rare from my experience. Although I live in the Midwest... When I went to school in Idaho they added one in the City of Rexburg. I swear there was an accident every day...
I know what you mean, re: 'confuse'. We have several round-abouts here in town, too, but it seems that when people see those, they totally ignore the 'Yield' sign and assume that they have the right of way regardless of who's in the round-about already, especially if it's a vehicle smaller than them. I'd like to think it's a problem with education and awareness, but I think it's just the typical highway attitude transferred to city streets of 'Me first. I'm in a hurry. Get out of the way, jerk!' Sorry... back on topic.
