Traffic Signals
Traffic signals control the flow of cars
and people to improve safety on roads.
Council-controlled traffic signals
Council controls more than 3,300km of
roads, with over 25,000 intersections. Traffic
signals are needed at intersections that carry
large numbers of cars and people. They
make it safer for road users such as cyclists
and pedestrians. They cost less than
roundabouts and do not take up as much
space. Council installs new traffic signals
each year that cost from $500,000 to over
$5,000,000.
Council controls more than 50 sets of traffic
signals on the Sunshine Coast. The
Department of Main Roads controls traffic
signals on some major Coast roads such as
Nicklin Way, Caloundra Road and
Maroochydore Road.
How traffic signals work
Traffic signals are controlled by a local
computer at each intersection. The Main
Roads Transport Management Centre at
Maroochydore can also access them.
Road sensors detect vehicles as they pass
and either change signals to green or extend
the green light time. At busy times, the green
light period may extend to a set limit and the
signals will follow a set sequence. Some
signals respond to traffic arriving at the
intersection.
Traffic signal coordination
Traffic signals on major roads need to:
P
manage peak flows
P
reduce delays
P
allow vehicles in side streets to enter or
cross over intersections.
Traffic signal displays
The length of time for a green traffic signal
depends on traffic conditions and should
always appear for a minimum of six seconds.
On most major roads with a speed limit up to
60 km/h the yellow or amber light is
displayed for four seconds. For higher speed
roads, more time is provided for the yellow or
amber traffic light.
An ‘all red’ light then applies on all roads
following the yellow signal. This allows
vehicles to move through the intersection
before more traffic movements begin. This
‘all red’ time depends on the size of the
intersection as larger intersections require
longer clearance time.
Vehicle and bicycle detection
Detectors buried in the road sense when a
car passes over them.
Bicycles can be detected, but it relies on
iron-based metal to trigger the signals. If
your bicycle is made of carbon-fibre,
fibreglass, plastic or aluminium it may not be
detected.
Fact Sheet Traffic Signals
Pedestrian walk/don't walk
symbols
The green man/red man symbols are used to
signal walk/don't walk.
A common thought is that people have to get
all the way across the road while the walk
signal is on. This is false. The walk signal is
used to inform people when they can start to
cross but the flashing don't walk signals
allow enough time to cross the road safely.
Reporting faults
The most common traffic signal fault
reported to council is faulty lamps. All traffic
signals send fault messages to repair
electricians as soon as faults occur.
A key feature is that anyone approaching an
intersection will see a minimum of three sets
of lights; so that if one or two lamps go out
the driver is still able to see a working set of
signals. The likelihood of all three lamps
failing at once is very low. If one or two
lamps are not working, there is no need to
report this to council as repair electricians
are already planning to replace the bulbs.
If you think your car is not triggering the
signals to change, there may be a fault with
the detector. When this happens the signal
automatically switches from detection mode
to timed mode. Timed mode may not be the
best way to deal with a range of traffic
volumes, but it does allow safe signal
operation until the fault can be repaired.
These faults are automatically detected.
All other faults or problems with traffic
signals should be reported to the Traffic
Control Centre at any time day or night with
a free call to 1800 678 501 or a local call to
13 19 40.
Council controls more than 50 sets of traffic
signals on the Sunshine Coast. Before you
report a fault please check council controlled
traffic lights list below.
If an intersection is not listed on the following
table, report the fault to the Department of
Transport and Main Roads on 13 19 40. This
service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
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Traffic Signals
Council controlled traffic signals:
Suburb
Intersecting Street 1
Intersecting Street 2
Intersecting Street 3
Aroona
Beerburrum St
Albatross Ave
M7257
Bokarina
Main Dr
Sportman Pde
M7250
Buderim
Pittards Rd
Jones Rd
M7157
Buderim
Gloucester Rd
Mill St
M7165
Buderim
Wises Rd
Paveways St
M7182
Buderim
Wises Rd
Southern Dr
M7183
Buderim
Wises Rd
Kayleigh Dr East
M7193
Buderim
Wises Rd
Kayleigh Dr West
M7194
Buderim
Wises Rd
Depot Access
M7195
Buderim
Maroochy Blvd
Plaza Pde
M7313
Buderim
Maroochy Blvd
Sunsrise Dr
M7327
Buderim
Dixon Rd
Pedestrian Signals Only
Close to Karawatha Dr
M7329
Buderim
Maroochy Blvd
Sunshine Cove Way
Dalton Dr
M7326
Caloundra
Buccleugh St
Roderick St
M7220
Caloundra
Queen St
George St
M7224
Caloundra
Queen St
Regent St
Chevallum
Mons Rd
Bruce Hwy On Ramp
Currimundi
Buderim St
Pedestrian Signals Only
Dicky Beach
Beerburrum Rd
Coonowrin St
M7248
Forest Glen
Mons Rd
Chevallum Rd
M7334
Glass House
Mountains
Coonowrin Rd
Pedestrian Signals Only
Kuluin
Main Rd
Tallow Wood Dr
M7166
Little Mountain
Parklands Blvd
Meridian Way
M7240
Little Mountain
Village Way
Parklands Blvd
M7251
Maroochydore
Bunaro St
Mungar St
M7149
Maroochydore
Evans St
School Rd
M7152
Maroochydore
Ocean St
Duporth Ave
M7174
Maroochydore
Esplande Rd
First Ave
M7176
Maroochydore
Plaza Pde
Carnaby St
M7179
Maroochydore
Dalton Dr
Unnamed Rd
M7333
Maroochydore
Primary School Crt
Pedestrian Signals Only
Maroochydore State School
M7116
Maroochydore
Memorial Ave
Pedestrian Signals Only
outside RSL
M7164
Moffat Beach
William St
Maltman St Nth
M7255
Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba Esp
Venning St
M7123
Mooloolaba
Brisbane Rd
Elanora Rd
M7125
Mooloolaba
River Esp
Parkyn Pde
M7133
Mooloolaba
Brisbane Rd
Kapala St
M7153
Mooloolaba
Brisbane Rd
Woomba Pl
M7161
Mooloolaba
Venning St
Walan St
M7173
Mooloolaba
Brisbane Rd
Walan St
Maltman St
Ref #
M7215
M7335
Currimundi State School
Glass House Mtn School
Hancock St
M7207
M7249
M7124
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Traffic Signals
Mooloolaba
Brisbane Rd
Amarina Ave
Neerim Dr
M7131
Mountain Creek
Molokai St
Karawatha Dr
Mountain Creek
Brightwater Blvd
Pedestrian Signals Only
Brighwater State College
M7258
Mountain Creek
Karawatha Dr
Pedestrian Signals Only
Close to Creek Tavern
M7318
Mountain Creek
Karawatha Dr
Pedestrian Signals Only
Close to Dixon Rd
M7330
Mountain Creek
Karawatha Dr
Lady Musgrave Dr
Prelude Dr
M7156
Nambour
Howard St
Sydney St
M7187
Nambour
Ann St
Lowe St
M7188
Nambour
Mitchell St
Mill La
M7345
Nambour
Arundell St
Mill La
M7346
Nambour
Arundall St
Daniel St
Peregian Springs
Havana Rd West
Pedestrian Signals Only
M7320
Peregian Springs
Ridges Blvd
The Avenue
M7331
Peregian Springs
Peregian Springs Dr
Pedestrian Signals Only
Sippy Downs
University Way
Chancellor Village Blvd
M7184
Sippy Downs
Dixon Rd
Claymore Rd
M7192
Sippy Downs
Lakehead Dr
Pedestrian Signals Only
M7189
Elizabeth St
M7110
St Andrews Anglican College
Near to Retirement Vill
M7319
M7314
Current as at July 2014
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Traffic Signals