Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#1

Post by stratos2 » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 1:23 AM UTC

Traffic is at a standstill in Melbourne , Australia. A computer glitch has shut down the automated traffic signs, and in turn caused the closure of main tunnels and traffic routes. What's worse, they still don't know what is causing the software glitch!

Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill
news.com.au

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#2

Post by redthrowaway » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 2:07 AM UTC

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#3

Post by rocky1138 » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 2:21 AM UTC

Bring every police officer on-duty, making a fair percentage of them as a manual fallback to traffic direction. Have the officers play the part of the traffic lights.

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#4

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 2:24 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#5

Post by vacri » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 2:34 AM UTC

redthrowaway wrote: post #2

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

It's more like 20km of traffic lights being out. These roads are our core east-west arterial roads and the landscape dictates that there aren't many other roads for the traffic to travel on. I can't say why there aren't traffic police out there, but these are once-public roads that have been privatised. Also, these roads are highways, not traffic intersections.

Point of trivia: before the current toll road company was given its mandate, our main east-west bridge (the Westgate) held the distinction of being one of the very few toll roads in the world that stopped being tolled when planned, when the cost was paid off. A few years of free travel, then this company was given the rights to the road just beyond the bridge...

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#6

Post by sliverstorm » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 2:45 AM UTC

See, this is why we need to hurry up and deploy networked computerized automobiles. We won't need stoplights anymore, so this kind of stuff won't happen!

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#7

Post by caf » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 3:07 AM UTC

redthrowaway wrote: post #2

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

The ABC has an article with a quote that explains it better (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/tunnel-closures-cause-...):

  CityLink spokeswoman Kate Murphy says the tunnels had to close as a precaution.

  "It's not just overhead signs [that are not working], it's also our safety systems
  as well," she said.

  "For example, in the tunnels the deluge systems or the smoke extraction systems
  which we may use in an emergency, we can't actually operate those as well, 
  which is why we've had to take the dramatic measure of actually closing the
  tunnels."

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#8

Post by DrStalker » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 3:11 AM UTC

caf wrote: post #7

redthrowaway wrote: post #2

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

The ABC has an article with a quote that explains it better ( http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/tunnel-closures-cause-... ): CityLink spokeswoman Kate Murphy says the tunnels had to close as a precaution. "It's not just overhead signs [that are not working], it's also our safety systems as well," she said. "For example, in the tunnels the deluge systems or the smoke extraction systems which we may use in an emerg…

I had to hunt the article to find that, since the first impression is just speed limit signs/traffic lights being out which is not major. (and plenty of posts here suggest other people thought the same thing)

The variable speed signs always have extra signs along the lines of "(80) if variable limit sign is disabled" as a fallback.

Not being able to handle leaks, fume buildup, fires and other emergency conditions is a completely different story.

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#9

Post by DrStalker » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 3:13 AM UTC

vacri wrote: post #5

redthrowaway wrote: post #2

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

It's more like 20km of traffic lights being out. These roads are our core east-west arterial roads and the landscape dictates that there aren't many other roads for the traffic to travel on. I can't say why there aren't traffic police out there, but these are once-public roads that have been privatised. Also, these roads are highways, not traffic intersections. Point of trivia: before the current toll road company wa…

It's not traffic light out, it's traffic lights out and if there is a problem everyone will die because none of the safety system are working.

Re: Computer Glitch brings Melbourne traffic to a standstill

#10

Post by lessnonymous » Wed, Oct 03, 2012, 3:24 AM UTC

redthrowaway wrote: post #2

I'm having a really hard time seeing how this is any different than a traffic light being out. If "me-go-you-go" fails, why don't they just have a traffic officer out there directing traffic manually?

(Ignoring all the safety stuff in other replies)

These are tunnels over 3km long. You can't have cops down there without breathing apparatus - even if the extractors were safely operating.