Blinking Green

A KC Star Opinion writer suggested that, rather than red-light cameras, a blinking green light phase be included in traffic signals. The idea is that the running of red-lights would be diminished by the addition of a light phase of blinking green before the light turns yellow, because drivers would have more warning as to when a green light was about to turn red, and thus, could be prepared to stop when they saw the yellow light. Recently, on this blog, I offered the idea that a "point of no return" stripe be painted across the lanes at the intersection to help drivers gauge their ability to stop upon seeing a yellow light. Both ideas have merits and faults. Detractors will say that the blinking green light would just encourage speeding up before the light changed, an act which would persist through the yellow light just as speeding up occurs now. The warning stripe would not be readily visible at night or during inclement weather and would be confused with a crosswalk marking.

So, what can be done to reduce the number of drivers who go through an intersection on the red? For one thing, we could encourage drivers to relax. What's the big hurry? It is not life or death whether one arrives at his or her destination a few minutes later than would happen with aggressive driving. For another thing, we could stress respect for the law at all times, even when driving. The rules of the road are designed to benefit all by providing safer travel. Aggressive driving makes for accidents and that isn't worth the repair cost or the anguish of injury or death that results from accidents. Finally, we should do more to enforce speed limits even if by means of direct control of car speed. I foresee the day when cars are equipped with radio-controlled speed governors that adjust their speed so it doesn't exceed the posted speed limit. In the meantime, radar controlled flashing speed indicators are an example of how technology is helping with enforcement. More effort needs to be applied to the problem of speed enforcement.

Solving the world's problems, one at a time.