Traffic light countdown timers, what a fanastic idea !

[Justin Smith]

Very big in a few South American countries such as Peru and Argentina.

So they`ve got them in South America, but not in the "advanced" UK (other than in a few isolated areas). Why, one wonders is that ? It just shows that the government aren`t actually that bothered about saving energy or reducing CO2 or whatever. If they were they`d get traffic light countdown timers fitted pronto.
As an aside I think if they made it compulsory for all cars to be fitted with mpg readouts (which reset at a minimum every time the tank is refilled) permanently displayed I`m sure it`d reduce the fuel used by all the cars in this country by at least 10%*. It certainly works for me. Both the cars we`ve bought in the last few months have mpg readouts and if you use maximum skill and anticipation you can make virtually the same progress as all the other cars and use significantly less fuel. Critically you`re constantly being reminded how much fuel you`re using, plus I`m naturally competitive so want to see how well I can do. I`m of the view that on public roads maximising your fuel consumption (whilst still making reasonable progress) takes far more skill than just flexing your right foot and driving faster, not that you actually get there much faster anywy !

*Certainly the privately owned ones !