Countdowns for Traffic Lights?
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Feb 19, 2009 10:55PM
"I'm trying to cure the high accident rate at these intersections during rain, sleet and snow. I've seen people slamming on the brakes when the light turns yellow to avoid getting a red-light ticket and getting rear-ended or close to rear-ended," Beale said.
The measure would cost at least $15,000 per corner and up to $45,000 at the oldest signals. Currently there are 220 intersections with red light cameras installed, but Beale's ordinance identifies the 132 most accident-prone, so the measure would cost no less than $1.98 million. Beale says the countdown clocks would give drivers a better gauge of how much time they have, but the transportation experts the Sun-Times spoke with disagreed.
Joe Schwieterman, a transportation professor and director of DePaul University's Chaddick Institute of Metropolitan Development, added, "When you see that thing at three seconds, you floor it. Your eyes focus on the countdown clock. There's a consequence to that, too. While people would see maybe less slamming on the brakes, it also encourages risky behavior."
The red-light cameras continue to be installed at a rate of 20 per year, and they've made the city over $100 million since 2003.
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