We got motion sensors and in-ground sensors. They only work well if programmed correctly, but they can "work".

"Then we wouldn't have to wait for two minutes for the light to change when you are the only car in sight." Ahhh, you actually wait?

Ahem... speaking as an engineer with a master of science degree in transportaion planning and engineering, allow me to explain something. Traffic lights, stops signs, etcetera, are traffic control devices. If there ain't no traffic, I'm outta control. I regularly do myself and the planet a favour by ignoring them if I am alone at the intersection. AND, I have explained this to more than one yellah stripe (RCMP). Never got a ticket.

What I find comical happens at one set of lights very near my house. There is an advance green opposite the exit from a strip mall I frequent. When I see that the major street has a red light, I have a red light and there is NO opposing traffic I make a left. Often as not, the driver behind me, whilst remaining at the red light, honks the horn noisily and the driver on the main street to my left does the same... both of them furiously pointing at the read light.

WTF? I wave and smile.