Drivers should be aware of their surroundings when traversing intersections but don’t expect extra help in knowing whether to accelerate or brake.
Q. At some of the pedestrian crosswalks downtown, timers have been added to let pedestrians know how many seconds they have to clear an intersection. I suggest that this also be done at the overhead traffic lights as well. Because not all yellow lights have a standard elapsed time before changing to red, having a timer would allow drivers to better gauge how long they have to clear the intersection. – Mike Scheele, Fort Wayne
A. Well, Mike, that likely isn’t going to happen, but I’ll try to explain how the signals are set.
Shan Gunawardena, city traffic engineer, said many factors are taken into consideration to determine how long a signal should last. For pedestrians, the white “Walk” signal lasts between 4 and 12 seconds to tell people when they can begin to cross. The blinking “Don’t Walk” signal lasts long enough for most adults to cross – walking at 3.5 feet per second. I agree that the numbered countdown is beneficial to let people know exactly how much time they have.
The city recently used a federal grant to update the signals downtown to include the countdown, and Gunawardena said they will be installed across the city as equipment is modernized.
The federal guidelines regulating signals do not allow for such a countdown for vehicle traffic, although I agree that letting people know would be beneficial. Even though some drivers might speed when they see the timer ticking down, others would know there is no chance to make a green and could stop safely and slowly.
I can also offer some information on how yellow and red lights are set. Yellow lights, Gunawardena said, are based on the road’s speed limit. The light is timed to allow drivers to comfortably stop at the intersection or make it through the intersection before it turns red. Of course, this requires drivers to be traveling at the legal speed. The lights typically last from 3 to 6 seconds.
To provide extra safety, signals now include a few seconds when all lights are red. This all-red time has become the standard over the years. While they do increase delays, they also limit vehicle crashes. This interval lasts a second or two but can be extended to five seconds in rare cases. The best thing to do when approaching an intersection is be aware of your surroundings and be ready to stop if the light changes. I know this can be difficult when we are in a hurry and want to beat the light, but saving 30 seconds might not be worth the risk.
Radio Sage
The bonus audio question this week comes from Ron Parker, who asked about Northland Boulevard off Lima Road.
The segment originally aired Friday afternoon on WOWO and can be heard online at www.journalgazette.net/roadsage.
