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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