Mardi Musings: Who the Hell Was It?
You know the exact feeling. You are driving through one of those pretty, sleepy French villages, happy as Larry, enjoying the pockets of historic loveliness all around you…
…and suddenly, the pedestrian crossing light turns solid red just as you get to it.
There are no pedestrians. There is no one waiting on the pavement. There isn't a soul even thinking about crossing the road.
So, what exactly is that all about?
The Secret Behind the Phantom Red Lights
I have to admit, when this first started happening to us, I couldn't quite work out whether I was deeply impressed or slightly annoyed. What I do know is that I immediately started looking around to see who the culprit might be.
Because it turns out this isn't some sort of French, high-tech game of knock-down-ginger. It is actually a rather clever little traffic-calming trick.
In France, these are known as feux de signalisation intelligents (intelligent traffic lights) or feux comportementaux (behavioural lights). Here is how they catch you out:
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The Sensor: As you pass the village boundary sign, an automated radar sensor measures your approaching speed.
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The Trigger: If you fail to slow down to the required speed limit—usually 50 km/h as you enter, dropping quickly to 30 km/h—the system quietly takes note.
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The Reward: A few hundred metres further into the village, the traffic light automatically trips to red.
It is basically the village infrastructure saying: “Ah ah ah… slow down, mon ami.”
Brakes vs. Suspension: Why It Beats a Speed Bump
We have several of these smart radar lights installed around us in the Aude now, and I have to say, I rather like them. They are a massive improvement over "sleeping policemen"—or ralentisseurs as they are known here—which have a nasty habit of aggressively reminding your car's suspension exactly who is boss.
At least this intelligent system just uses your brakes, rather than presenting you with a steep garage bill for new shock absorbers further down the line!
These days, Bob and I are so used to the system that the real game has become spotting which speedy little fiend triggered the radar as they entered the village ahead of us. Because really... why would anyone want to race through these beautiful, sun-drenched places anyway?
Over to You!
So, I am highly curious to hear from our community on this one.
What do you think works best to safely slow down traffic in small countryside villages? Do you prefer these clever electronic crossings, or do you think traditional speed bumps are the only way to stop speeders?
Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts!
À mardi prochain, mes super lovely people!
Jen x
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