LAFAYETTE — Nobody likes sitting in traffic - that's why Lafayette Consolidated Government uses the latest technology at traffic lights.
Driving up to an intersection, you may notice something black in the road, it's called a hockey puck. It's the latest sensor to change traffic lights.
"Hockey pucks are vehicle detection sensors that we install in left turn lanes that allow the signal control to change based on the traffic present in the lane," Interim Director of LCG Traffic, Roads & Bridges Warren Abadie said.
Abadie explains it helps the through traffic from getting backed up.
"When we set the timer, we give each movement a certain amount of time, so if the sensors sense nobody is there, it can give more time to the main road, which is usually the most congested," Abadie said.
In the years past, Lafayette has used camera sensors and wires under the ground. But Abadie says it only takes 10 minutes to install the hockey pucks, making it the most convenient option if something goes wrong.
"There has been instances with left turn skipping. If that happens, call us so we can send a technician over to fix it," Abadie said.
There are currently 190 traffic lights in the city of Lafayette and Abadie says 150 of those have the hockey pucks.
