Date:         Sat, 14 Dec 2002 17:31:21 +0000
Reply-To:     Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: How long should the yellow be?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

"Jack" <john.cook58@verizon.net> said -

>  Since this discussion seems to revolve about the duration of the yellow
>  light (at least for those that understand its real purpose), does anyone
>  know if there's a set of guidelines available for its timing?  Traffic
 > engineering isn't exactly rocket science and has been around a while.

Over that last year Car & Driver has run a couple of articles on the
subject.  Their contention is that cities have had good results by
lengthening the yellow from 3 to 5 seconds.  They also claim that the
contracts several cities have signed  with intersection camera firms
specifically outlaw lengthening the duration.  Sounds like revenue
generation rather than accident prevention to me.

 > At least one listee stated, iirc, that the yellow had been purposely set
 > short for revenue purposes where cameras had been installed.  If so, I
 > wonder if it's still within the range determined by ordinary safety
 > factors.

I hate people who run red lights, but I don't feel that a camera which just
takes a snapshot is the best way to solve the problem of accidents.  The
rear-end collision rate has gone up some places, which a longer duration
yellow should not do.  Multiple pictures makes a lot more sense.

It does seem that some traffice enforcement methods are more for generating
revenue than reducing the accident rate.

I would much rather see the police ticketing people who drive erratically in
traffic, don't signal, and drive through red lights instead of just sitting
on a rural highway with a radar gun.

A recent program on the German autobahn showed police ticketing people for
driving too close to the car ahead.  More of a cause of accidents than
driving fast.

- Mike

<<< Please trim your replies to any postings.  There is no reason to quote
everything that has gone before >>>

Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, ID

mike_l_f@hotmail.com





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