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Opticom system (traffic light managers) do you have them and do you like them?
I know a lot of the bigger cities are using them but do you like them or do you see a lot of problems with the opticom system?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Firefighter139 on
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I am a volunteer in a small town and we have them on our major intersections. They are used on all the larger apparatus, I personally like them for our application its a good system.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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We have had these systems for many years. They work well and do what their intended to do. The only problem is when the receiver head on the intersection pole gets out of proper alignment an dosnt see our actuators on our trucks. We have to wait for days for the State Road crews to come and re-set them. We like them
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Permalink Reply by Wade Seely on
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They are a great piece of equipment if used properly. One thing to realize is that if another apparatus or leo has laready tripped it, it will do you no good coming from another direction. I have had incidents where it can mess the lights up for several minutes which can cause other problems. My only other 2 cents on it is to remeber all of you other training when driving and to not rely on them to actually stop any other trafffic.
TCSS
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Permalink Reply by M.J. 6821 on
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when we first got them we had a few that would not pick up the actuator soon enough bc they were only a block or 2 apart.
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Hatfield on
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Our department uses them, they work well.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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Alot small towns have them as well. They work good, but still need to drive with due regard and opticom training specific needs to be done as they do create sceanrios that otherwise would not occurr without them. Like driving faster than the speed limit and not capturing the light. Also allowing time for the cars to begin to move again when sitting at the red and it turns green for ALL OF US. You are supposed to go with the flow and not force them outta the way. I also see alot of passing on the right with a left hand turning lane stopped and aggressive siren use. Long line of cars on the left (first guy is waiting on the green) and you have a free middle lane.... but one of those left hand lane cars in the middle decides to move over to the right.... (it is a law here in our state) and cause a t-bone type collision. It is not pretty, seen an ambulance roll over from the collision avoidance! Guess what, ambulance passing on the right caused it.
Problems with them.... not really.
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Permalink Reply by John Karl Ambrusch, III on
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Our township has 2 opticom systems and for the most part, they serve all right. Too many opticoms in any area is not very safe for operations because of the confusion they cause with multiple apparatus responding from different areas.
The issue I have is developing a good system of communication between apparatus responding to a scene so that an officer's vehicle doesn't cross paths with another vehicle if they're both arming the opticoms from opposing directions.
The last thing that any department needs is to have a truck or pumper coming to a light using the opticom and a Chief officer trying to use his at the same light from the intersecting direction. There needs to be an understanding as to who will be yielded the right of way and of course, still slowing down as one approaches a light.
Personally, I recommend all personnel use good situational awareness and always announce on the air which direction or main route you will responding on when your truck goes in service.
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Permalink Reply by Rob on
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How do these systems work? Do they make the entire intersection red, or do they give green to the direction of travel?
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They are supposed to make the lights cycle so that the EV has the green light. So it will either hold the light green or cycle the other light through so that its red, and the direction of travel is green.
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John,
it's not about communicating your position. otherwise in the old days you would have been doing it without the opticom. It is ALL ABOUT having a good quality training program would establish the need to IDENTIFY that you have captured the traffic light's opticom and have the right of way. All other apparatus would be forcing or blowing a red light without due regard to the color of the light, the opticom system itself and/or the intersection. Your concern is highly preventable with a good opticom training program and operating policy.
We announce, Ladder 2 approaching XYZ street, when we know we have the potential for another station to be responding through a controlled opticom intersection. BUT we don't announce our route on every intersection otherwise your radio traffic would be overloaded.
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Permalink Reply by Brian Dumser on
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I love them. We have them as well as the surrounding towns. They're especially nice when transporting to any of the 4 hospitals we transport to. I'd like to see more public education as far as what they should do upon seeing the opticom light. Keep in mind that opticoms are just another tool in the tool box and should not be counted on to control traffic. Stop at all intersections and proceed only when safe!
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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I'm an ambulance driver/FF in a volunteer department with relatively dense traffic. Yes, we do have the Opticom system and it works great - especially during the busier hours of the day.
The only problem that I can ever remember having (which wasn't a problem for me, but for the general public) was when I was on an automatic commercial alarm. One of the apparatus was parked on the side of the main road RIGHT near a traffic light. The operator left the Opticom on, so traffic backed up pretty bad for awhile. Other than that, I have had no problems with it, and I recommend it to any department as it is a great safety tool.
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