Traffic Light Turned Green in All Directions for 30 Years

Let's say that a new traffic light is installed at an intersection. On one side of the light is a car dealership, and the light in front of the dealership leads onto a highway. Now, let's say that when the light was programmed, a mistake was made -- and every time the light changes, it is actually green in all directions for seven seconds. How long do you think such a mistake would go unnoticed? A few days? A few months at most? How about 29 years? According to Japan's Daily Yomiuri, that's how long it took authorities in Fukushima, Japan to notice that a traffic light installed on National Route 49 was improperly programmed.

Amazingly, until June 19, the two-way green light had never caused an accident. The light's luck ran out, however, when a driver tried to exit the car dealership at the same time that another driver was following the green light onto the road, and the two cars collided.

Both drivers told local police they had a green light, which prompted an investigation. The error in programming was quickly realized, the traffic light replaced, and the drivers compensated by the police for the damages.

Things may have worked out in the end, but it's still a little disturbing that a traffic light with such a dangerous operational error has been in service longer than some of us here at Switched have been alive. Hey, at least no one died.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20090720TDY03101.htm

Traffic Light Turned Green in All Directions for 30 Years

Traffic Light Turned Green in All Directions for 30 Years

Anarcho-Capitalist Non-Miscellaneous

AnCaps With FreeStyle Miscellaneous