Y2K bug hits traffic lights

COMPUTERISED CONTROLLER cabinets in traffic lights at eight major intersections in the Corporate Area, which are not Y2K compliant, are out of service, the Ministry of Transport and Works reported yesterday.

The intersections affected are: Torrington Bridge; Washington Boulevard at Ken Hill Drive and Savannah Avenue; South Camp Road, at Victoria Avenue; Camp and Deanery Roads; Waltham Park and Bay Farm Roads; Maxfield Avenue and Lyndhurst Road.

The controller systems in the lights will be replaced during the next two weeks, says Dr. Janine Dawkins, chief traffic engineer in the Ministry of Transport and Works.

Dr. Dawkins said that of approximately 140 traffic lights in the Corporate Area, 90 were upgraded to Y2K compliance and 10 were electro-mechanical. "Recently, we examined all traffic light equipment to detect their Y2K readiness and established that some 35 controllers would be replaced. The eight lights which are currently out of order are among the set which were earmarked for replacement," she said.

In the interim, the Ministry will collaborate with the Police Traffic Division to facilitate the flow of traffic at critical intersections, while repairs are effected.

-- Me (not@here.com), January 03, 2000

Answers

Nothing went wrong.

Repeat after me nothing went wrong.

It's all going to be just fine....

Go back to sleep.

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), January 03, 2000.

This kind of problem cannot occur!!!!

TM... can you reset that snooze again?

Thanks :-)

Mike

=====================================================================

-- Mike Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), January 03, 2000.

Link please

-- Paul (paul@fakehome.com), January 03, 2000.

Sorry, wnet to post link right after the above post but my system crashed. Here is the LINK:

A HREF="http://dev.go-jamaica.com/gleaner/20000103/f2.html ">http://dev.go-jamaica.com/gleaner/20000103/f2.html

-- Me (not@here.com), January 03, 2000.

TRY again:

-Here is the LINK:

http://dev.go-jamaica.com/gleaner/20000103/f2.html

-- Me (not@here.com), January 03, 2000.

Wow, out of billions of trafic lights, an astounding 8 go offline.. wow, this PROVES that the world will end...

-- Realist (don't@want.spam), January 03, 2000.

Dear Realist - Sorry, son ... three digit numbers refer to hundreds not "billions." This means that just over 5% of their traffic signals were affected. Not much but it is certain more than "nothing."

We know that all governments, particularly us and uk were watching closely for any problems whatsoever. So this story lets us know that, yes, there were some problems and gov't and/or reporters chose to not say anything about it at the moment when so many were listening for just these types of reports. Instead, we only kept hearing: There was no problem. Everything is A..ok.

The facts can speak for themselves -- if we can just get them.

-- Listen (Here@yourmama.com), January 03, 2000.