What's the point of pressing the wait button at traffic lights?

Question

Ok so what's the point? Does it change the lights over quicker because I've never noticed any difference whatsoever....

Answer 1

none as most are not connected to the lights just the indicator , makes people think there doing something

Answer 2

No, it just alerts the signal that you want to cross.  A "normal" green light in some cases might not be enough to cross, so it won't even show the WALK sign unless someone pressed the button.

Answer 3

At junctions such as crossroads where there are always some cars at a red light, it doesn't make any difference, but if it is a pelican crossing, the lights will not change unless the button is pressed.

Answer 4

Well, i think if you do press it the traffic lights will stop quicker because it knows someone wants to cross.

Answer 5

you might stay alive a bit longer.

Answer 6

Depends on how the lights are set up, in places with lots of pedestrians the green man/walk sign will operate automatically as there will always be someone waiting, this also applies when part of the junction is certain to be clear of vehicles (ie One way street or no turn)  - however at night the pedestrian lights might trigger on the wait buttons.

In quieter areas the the lights will not have a pedestrian phase by default. Pressing the button will tell the control box to include one in the sequence and usually all vehicle traffic is stopped.

Newer installations include sensors to detect if pedestrians are waiting after the button is pressed. This is so the pedestrian sequence can be canceled if someone crossed in a gap in the traffic (on red man/don't walk) or pressed the button and scarpered