Re: Red Lights and Accidents

Larry G <gross.larry@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Feb 8, 6:55 pm, John Lansford <jlnsf...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Larry G <gross.la...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Another twist on this is to use countdown lights so the offenders are
not only captured on camera but we know how far past yellow and into
red they are.

I'm not sure that would show all that much, though.  I doubt most red
light offenders run the light more than a second after the light
changes.

One thing the RLC's do stop is the "queueing" of traffic through the
intersection, especially if they're making left turns.  You see this
all the time; a line of cars starts making a left turn, and the
motorists at the end don't stop turning left even after the light
turns red.  RLC's stop that activity.

I think that no matter how long the yellow is - you'll have the same
problem because people who run red lights are not counting the seconds
anyhow.. all they are doing is trying to beat a yellow light whether
that light has been in cycle for 10, 20, or 40 seconds.  It's the
tipping point when it changes that tempts the red light runners.

Many drivers recognize that there's an "all red" time on most signals
to let the intersection clear prior to traffic begin moving in the
other direction.  They use that knowledge to justify them running the
red light.

Most of us, including myself have run yellows and we all know what the
thinking is

You can't "run a yellow light".  It's perfectly legal for you to go
through an intersection under a yellow light.  In fact, it's legal for
you to do so even if the light changes to red while you're past the
stop bar.


I did not know that. I thought if you were in the intersection when
red came on - you were violating the law.

Not in NC you aren't; you just have to enter the box while the light
is still yellow.

so what are these folks complaining about.. that they are entering the
intersection when it is red? They are basically trying to "beat" the
red?

Exactly. Red light cameras only fine you if you enter the
intersection while the light is red. I've gone through several RLC
intesections while the yellow was on and never had a fine sent to me.
In fact, there is a very short interval after the light changes to red
where the camera won't go off either, but that interval is a fraction
of a second.

John Lansford, PE
--
John's Shop of Wood
http://wood.jlansford.net/
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Red Lights and Accidents
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  • Re: Red Lights and Accidents
    ... not only captured on camera but we know how far past yellow and into ... It takes green time away from the other legs of the intersection, ... Many drivers recognize that there's an "all red" time on most signals ... before the light changes ...
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