I'm having a hard time understanding how so many of you are having a problem at lights. Our Mini came equipped with what I thought, until now, was a "standard" feature. Now I must assume we have a very special Mini as we received a "special green light alarm" at no additional cost from the factory. My wife has reported it works flawlessly. I'm not entirely sure how it works but the best I can tell is that after stopping at a red light the alarm is activated, if after a short time following the change to green no forward movement is detected she hears a beeping sound...very similar to the horn of a car.

 

Love my light in sight. Thing works great. And a bargain.

 

I have not noticed the problem. I think that our signal lights in Tucson Az are better designed perhaps?

 

It depends on where you're driving. In Wisconsin we normally have 3 indications for each approach. A "near right" which is at the stop bar, and a "far right and far left" which are usually on the far side of the intersection. One of them is almost always visible.

 

Actually, it hasn't been a consistent problem where I live now, but in NJ, the traffic signals are suspended too close and/or too high. The lightinsight thing eliminates the need to perform semi-handstands in the driver's seat.

 

Hmm...I do have the Premium package...

 

All of you who said stop 5-10 feet back from the light, come on out to New England and see if you live through the weekend.

I love my light in sight, especially since I'm a tall guy, my seat is already back as far as possible and as low as possible. Super product

 

That made my day

 

There is another problem with stoping way back, so you can see the light. Many lights nowadays have sensors in the street to sense wether or not their is a car present. They are weight or magnetic sensors ussually. If no car is present, the light will not turn. This keeps the busier street direction open until absolutely needed.

If you stay back to far (1 car lenght, 10 or 20 feet), you could have a very l-o-n-g wait.

 

If you stop far enough back to see the light, you won't run over the sensor that makes the light change; you'll be there forever...
I have a sunroof on my '06 and I do look through it for some lights; no sunroof on the '07 though.

I'm 6'5" --- I'm ordering one now!
Thanks.

edit: birdman and I were posting at the same time; we're obviously both very clever...

 

While this does happen in most cases its not an issue. Most sensors governing straight thru traffic are placed far enough back from the intersection (and cover all thru lanes) to make it possible for a non-speeding vehicle to trigger the lights to change fast enough that a green will appear before the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Assuming there is little or no side street traffic at that time.

Modern left turn sensors are normally 2 or 3 car lengths from the intersection. This is normal because usually 1 or 2 left-turning vehicles can proceed at the end of the thru green. More than 2 vehicles waiting to turn would trigger the sensor and a left turn arrow would display prior or concurrent with the thru green.

Of course, there are exceptions.

 

Wow, you took the words right out of my mouth. All I could picture is someone getting killed for that while driving around here. Especially down towards Worcester.

 

I say wait until people behind you start honking at you...

 

That takes about a nano sec. around here!

 

This can't-see-the-traffic-light problem I think is reserved for tall people. Being tall I immediately put in my order. It arrived and it works. I've tried prisms and mirrors and with other cars have used the sun roof, but this is definitely the perfect tool for the job.

The only time I don't appreciated this little marvel is when the sun is low on the horizon but above the roof line. I have found though that when the sun becomes a bit blinding, a wide envelope tucked above my driver's visor works well as a window shade that can be pulled down just enough to block my lightinsite lens.

 

Not just a tall person problem. I am 5'6" and find the thing a fantastic addition.

 

Nowadays? We had them in Idaho, always a bastion of modern electronics, more than 30 years. Glad the technology finally spread.

 

There are many "low traffic" intersections with lights that only have the one sensor. In most (if not all) cases the sensors are an induction loop that senses a change magnetically when an auto moves inside the loop. A weight sensor would (I think) be somewhat cost prohibitive.

 

Another option is to drive fast enough that you never get stopped at red lights

 

thats funny

 

I'm having a hard time understanding what the problem is with seeing the traffic lights. Then I figured it out. Some states don't have the 3 views of the light like we do. I can be directly under one, and still see one to the left and right of me across the intersection. I think there are a dozen (3x4) copies of lights at each intersection here. Guess I don't need the accessory.

 

Just ordered a couple. I'm 6'2" and I've just been waiting for the other cars to go, which is OK when there's multiple lanes. I can't wait!

 

Actually, in-road sensors are almost never used anymore. Around here, where there are sensors, they usually are mounted on light poles or cables. On at least one major road in NJ, they installed a fiber optic system that monitored traffic build-up at lights on the main road and feeder streets.

 

Nope, Im 5'4" and at certain intersections I have to actually lean forward to see when the light changes. I need to order one

 

That's pretty cool, I haven't seen any of those, unless they're the sensors used for the red light camera flash tickets. Around here they have the in-road loop sensors and the camera sensors. Two different systems tied together only to generate tickets for revenue generation.