A front page article in the Detroit News details the emerging problem with a device that is now available to the public -- a traffic light changer.
Eliminating red lights along the routes of their vehicles can give emergency response teams the few extra critical minutes that can save lives and property. Originally intended only for emergency vehicles, the $300 MIRT (mobile infrared transmitter) knock-offs available on the Internet emit an infrared beam that signals traffic signals to turn green and gives the vehicle the right-of-way. It is only a matter of time before self-centered drivers start using the devices widely to skirt traffic congestion, which is creating fears that chaos will ensue. "Even more fundamentally, the dashboard device may be impossible to detect even from a police car right next to it, and it may be perfectly legal anyway."
Thanks to Slashdot News
FULL STORY: Gadget may wreak traffic havoc
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