Treasure Valley drivers making their commutes early in the morning may have to spend a little more time at stop lights.
Ada County Highway officials say that’s because the dense fog we’ve been experiencing affects their operation.
“The fog can sometimes hinder that equipment’s ability to detect the presence of a vehicle,” said Nicole DuBois, ACHD Spokeswoman.
And with many of Ada County’s traffic signals relying on video, weather-induced blockage can cause a headache for drivers.
“When that happens, it goes into ‘Recall Mode,’ which actually gives each direction of traffic the maximum amount of green time,” DuBois said.
To help alleviate the problem, ACHD is experimenting with radar detection, which is not affected by weather.
Currently, eight intersections along Chinden Boulevard are equipped with the new technology.
“It detects each individual car, it can tell you how fast the car is going,” DuBois said.
The Boise Police Department encourages drivers to prepare by leaving the house a little earlier. If you drive through a red light in a fog-induced frustration, you’ll risk getting a citation.
