AUTO 45% WETS AUTO CLAS AOR Pde signals DO YOU realize that during the past decade or two our city streets have become smarter? “Smarter?” you ask. “As in, more intelli- . gent?” Well, yes. On the beautiful North Shore nearly all waffic light-controlled intersections are equipped with sensors that detect changes in the magnetic field in the road. A metal object, your vehicle, causes a detectable change. Ergo, traffic lights know when you and your car are waiting at and when you’ve left an intersection — and they ~ know what to do about it. Strangely, many people deny the existence of this fairly simple technology — a litile too Big Brother-ish for them. I suspect.’ For these skeptics, I have a home- wvork- er, roadwork- assignment for you. Because we have well- above-average road maintenance departments, cracks in the road caused by. the elements are duly filled with a black, roofing tar-like .- goop. The next time you approach _a’major intersection, however, notice the crack/patchwork shapes just before the stop-line: These Brother gets street smart are perfect rectangles, perfect dia- mond-shapes or, more recently, perfect circles (which resist splin- tering and are more effective). These shapes represent purposely- cut grooves into which sensor wires are placed, then buried. If you don't see them, the wires were placed before the road was paved. But wait, there’s more! Traffic lights know if, when and for how long a car has waited at an inter- section. For example, all the sasUwest traffic lights along Marine Drive will remain green until traffic (including pedestrian) comes to wait at the cross streets. In such a case, traffic lights will change to accommodate those waiting — bul only as necessary and/or for a minimum of seven seconds to a maximum of 30- something seconds (these time limits vary throughout the day. rush hour usually using the maxi- mums). At other intersections (i.e. St. George Ave. & 23rd St. in North Van) the traffic light will change to green for whomever needs it and then remain that way until some- oné else needs it otherwise. Also, those flashing green left- turn-priority arrows only go on if someone is on the left-turn sensor. Furthermore, they only remain on (to a limited maximum) while cars continue to trigger that sensor — if no one does so for a mere two sec- onds, the arrow goes amber then . off. Incidentaily, the only.time . you'll see me rushing up to a red. light. a practice I otherwise consid- er foolish and wasteful, is when I want certain lights to cycle in my favor. (Pedestrians, by the way, have a much greater influence over | traffic lights than they once.did. ' Many seem to be unaware of the ITALIAN CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOW... The Vancouver Alfa Romeo Club is holding: its sixth. annual Italian car and bike show on Sunday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Waterfront Park (just west of North Vancouver's SeaBus termi- nal). In addition to a bountiful array of fine Italian machinery. sounds of the European nation will: be _ provided by musical group A Touch of Italy. For details call Fritz at 988-7904. — Andrew McCredie power in their finger tips. We'll cover the Power of Pedestrians in next week's column.) So, drivers, if you want that fight to go green you must be on the sensor! Many (but not all) lights are oblivious to your pres- ence if you are a car-length back from the stop line. Too often do f find myself patiently and politely screaming “move forward!" to a driver stopped in front of me. Also. you folk who make the decision to stop on an amber much too late or stop on a red then creep forward eagerly and end up waiting on the crosswalk rather than the sensor — the traffic lights think you've gone! Since it is illegal to back up. you are stuck there until a car comes to trigger the sensor behind you. Please show a little foresight next time. Finally, sensors can also count and they can communicate with each other. For your own good, of course. Big Brother is sensing you, at least. Video sensors are coming soon — I kid you not. Satellite sensors already exist. NORTH VANCOUVER $ SUZUKI ATTENTION! - Tracker, Sunrunner, Geo Metro, Sprint & Firefly owners. SUZUKI built your car Bring your Suzuki vehicle to the people who know it best! Got a question? Cail our Service Manager, Gary Thiessen 1.1695 Maring Dr. 983-3941 SERVICE & USED PARTS (MECHANICAL & BODY PARTS) ERED al ZROBIN SPECIALTY MOTOR CARS CURRENTLY F HAS A LARGE SELECTION OF 960 AND _ 1850 SERIES VOLVOS AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE | DELIVERY, CALL OR | STOP BY TODAY. SPECIALTY HOTOR-CARS-AORTH VAS “GORE VO SlLBARL 1238 Marine Br. North Vancouver 980-2464 J) 8 SAVINGSIE! NEW SAAB 900’s & 9000's” PLUS DEMOS & USED. _“Buy Now. & Save”