Traffic lights

Report traffic light faults

We control traffic lights on Council roads. Traffic light faults include:

  • lights not working
  • broken lights
  • loop detector and timing issues
  • requesting a new traffic signal
  • requesting changes to an existing traffic signal.

To report a traffic light fault

To report traffic light faults on state-controlled declared roads, please call the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 131 940.

How do traffic lights work?

Traffic lights respond to road sensors controlled by computers.

Road sensors are called loop detectors. They are buried in the road and pick up cars when they drive over them. When the loop detector senses a car, it will either change the light to green or extend the time of the green light.

Loop detectors are adjusted to sense smaller vehicles like motorbikes and bicycles. However, they may not detect bicycles made of carbon-fibre, fibreglass, plastic or aluminium.

Each intersection has a local computer that controls the traffic signals. Our traffic engineering team can access the computers remotely if needed.

Lights can be coordinated with other intersections to help traffic flow smoothly on busy roads. The busiest road is usually given priority when two major roads intersect.

For information about road rules at traffic lights, please visit DTMR Road rules.

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