this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2025
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An antenna embedded in the road? For every intersection in the country? I can’t fathom how much that would have cost.
Most intersections already have powerlines to them, and a large number also have stop lights. The cost would be a very large number, but compared to the costs we have already spent on the intersection and getting power to it the costs is trivial.
For this system to be practical at all, the antennas would need to be placed well ahead of the intersection or exit/entrance ramp, in order to allow drivers time to get the message and safely prepare to turn. So not at every intersection, for every intersection. Multiple times for all the directions of traffic that would need to use it.
not to mention this was touted as being exclusive to one company or another. WTF is going to pay for that.
Most rural intersection have zero power, and if they do its solar.
Where are you that rural intersections have power? Because it can’t be NA.
I have family who lives where the State still hasn't even bothered to put up stop lights.
You wouldn't need to install an antenna at every single intersection. A town with zero stoplights is going to be tiny as fuck and everyone will know how to get to the closest highway. From there the route can be established using a roadside antenna.
Power lines run along most rural roads. At least where I have seen rural roads. A few don't have them but in my experience most do. Of course it is whatever voltage the power lines are at, to use it you need a transformer, meter, circuit breakers and whatever.
They won’t even put up lights to make the intersections safe or traffic lights, even though there is “power” and you think they’ll do this? Do I have a bridge to sell you….
There’s a reason those lines aren’t already tapped dude. As I said, they actually use solar for powered stuff when needed, although those lines are there. Just because there’s lines, does in no way mean the intersection is powered. Where did you get this information from?
I never said this was practical. It was an idea that it appears they never tried to make work in the 1960s (guessing age here). It is questionable if it could have been made to work with the technology of the day.
lack of power is not a reason it couldn't have worked.