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Delays no match for signal scoffers

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published July 23, 2006

Why do motorists persist in running red lights? It defies explanation as I marvel daily at the volume of lunatics blithely sailing through long turned red lights, oblivious to the oncoming traffic.

A reader recently suggested that the problem may be partially solved by adjusting signal timing.

Randy Wittles wrote: "You don't need red light cameras, police sitting at each intersection; delay the green light to the cross traffic by 5-6 seconds. No one in their right mind would run a red light after 5-6 seconds of it being red."

The issue of who is in their right mind when observing idiotic behavior on the road is always up for debate, but plenty of times I have seen folks running red lights 5 seconds or more after the signal has turned red. And Ken Jacobs, Pinellas County's manager of signal timing, told me that delay intervals are already a big consideration in signal timing.

"The county, state and most cities provide what is called an 'all-red clearance' interval when timing traffic signals. This means that following the end of a yellow light all signals for conflicting movements will remain red for a specified period," Jacobs said.

"This time is usually based on how long it takes a car that enters the intersection 'legally' to complete the crossing before another direction receives a green light."

And the unfortunate reality is that drivers intent on circumventing traffic laws and common sense do what they please regardless of safety measures.

"Unfortunately, there are many drivers that learn the length of the all-red interval and actually enter on the red knowing the other direction will not turn green," Jacobs said. "In this case the extension of the all-red interval actually can promote red light running, so we try and keep the times to just what is necessary to clear the intersection."

Speaking of traffic light timing, reader Lori Richardson wrote in about the signal at Starkey and Walsingham roads:

"There is a traffic light at the corner of Starkey Road and Walsingham that you can sit at for a couple of minutes before the light changes.

"This is not a problem during the week when there is a lot of traffic, but on the weekends you shouldn't have to wait. Most people make a right turn and then try to make a U-turn. Can this light be changed so that it changes more quickly?"

Jacobs responded that his crew is working on adjusting signal timing plans that include that intersection as well as 126th Avenue to facilitate north-south traffic flow between Bryan Dairy and Ulmerton roads.

"As soon as we are finished with these plans, we will change the weekend plans as well. As there is not a need for such long cycle lengths when school is not in session, we will work to minimize the side street delay as much as possible," Jacobs said.

A motorist who frequently travels 54th Avenue N is wondering about the signals at the intersection of 54th Avenue and Fourth Street N. She wrote:

"Dr. Delay, could you find out why there is no left turn signal at the intersection of Fourth Street N and 54th Avenue N? There are left turn lanes in place, and this is a busy intersection. Almost all of the other intersections along Fourth Street N seem to have left turn arrows."

I shared the reader's question with the DOT, and Anthony Chaumont, a traffic studies specialist with the department, responded that the intersection was last scrutinized three years ago.

"At the time, we found insufficient justification for installing left turn phases from 54th Avenue N. Typically, left turn phases are installed where safety or delays are a problem. The crash history found a low occurrence of collisions that would have been corrected by eastbound left turn phases," Chaumont said.

But that doesn't mean that the DOT isn't willing to take another look.

Chaumont said they can evaluate the intersection again and update the 2003 study to make another determination about the need for a left turn arrow. Sounds like an offer we can't refuse.

Until next week, happy and safe motoring!

Please share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay via e-mail at docdelay@yahoo.com.

[Last modified July 22, 2006, 20:36:52]