Q: I see changes in the way traffic is flowing at some larger intersections where I live. It used to be the turn lanes from the opposite sides would go at the same time. That way the through traffic from each side could go as soon as the opposite turn lane was complete. Now in many intersections, both the turn lane and through traffic from one side goes while the opposite side has all the cars for through and turn lanes waiting and idling. This does not appear to be as efficient as before. Why the change?
A: There’s that scene in the 2003 movie The Italian Job when the thieves we’re supposed to be rooting for take back the stolen gold from the double-crossing thief we’re supposed to root against. (Besides the ethical quandary of choosing which bad guy to root for, how can you ever root against Edward Norton?) A key part of their strategy involves hacking into Los Angeles’ traffic control computer system and manipulating traffic lights to direct the truck full of gold to their desired location.
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