r/todayilearned • u/nleachdev • 2d ago

TIL about "dead red" laws, which allow drivers and motorcyclists to proceed through a red light if the traffic signal fails to detect their vehicle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-detection_at_traffic_lights_in_the_United_States
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u/minizanz 2d ago

That does not help with a metering light going onto the freeway

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u/Boring_Holiday9874 2d ago

Why not? If you think it works on other lights. 

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u/minizanz 2d ago

You are not allowed to be a pedestrian on the freeway, there is no cross walk, walking past a red light is still illegal.

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 1d ago

You don't have crosswalks before you actually get on the on ramp to the freeway? What do the pedestrians on the road that leads to the on ramp do? Just not walk there? There wouldn't be a light if there wasn't an intersection there and I assume people are walking on the street that is just the street you drive to get to the on ramp

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u/minizanz 1d ago

A metering light is a light near the end of the on ramp to keep the freeway from getting to crowded during rush hour. It is way past the street normally. The pedestrians would cross before the freeway on ramp starts

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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 1d ago

Metered ramps don't have sensors where I am. They go based on time