Radar Cameras

BB_TX · Apr 27, 2004

I work in the northern suburbs of Dallas but live 30+ miles away in the country. Due to massive growth, what used to be a nice country drive each way 31 years ago is now a traffic nightmare. 4 more years and I plan to retire and move another 30 miles out and spend more time with my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif In the meantime, I hate to think someone in my family, or anyone else for that matter, may be injured or killed because someone could not waste a minute waiting for a traffic light. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Egon · Apr 27, 2004

You be tryin to get me in trouble Gary. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

mwechtal · Apr 30, 2004

One interesting thing that I've read about the redlight cameras. It seems that in many places they've shortened the time the yellow light is on. This is what causes the drivers to slam on their brakes when the yellow comes on. I guess these things wouldn't be so bad if they were used properly, but someone always has to find a way to make money. To me, it seems that whoever ordered the shortening of the yellow time should be jailed. That is as dangerous as running a light in my opinion. There IS a federal standard for the yellow light time.

Mike

mundamanu · Apr 30, 2004

If I remember my lessons from driver's ed correctly, the duration of the yellow light is (was?) determined by the posted speed limit. The faster the speed limit, the longer the yellow light, which makes sense, of course.

fivestring · Apr 30, 2004

It's based on the size of the intersection, speed limit, layout (hill, curve, etc.) and number of lanes.

mundamanu · Apr 30, 2004

It's based on the size of the intersection, speed limit, layout (hill, curve, etc.) and number of lanes. 

Which makes more sense, of course. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

txdon · May 1, 2004

"Which makes more sense..."

Yes there is a Federal guideline.
Yellow is on from 3 to 6 seconds.
(see formula)
No the states do not have to follow it.

Which makes no sense.

GerardC · May 1, 2004

( Yellow is on from 3 to 6 seconds.)

So that means you may have time to FLOOR IT! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

fivestring · May 3, 2004

Ain't that the truth.
Yellow means," Get out of the way, I'm coming through!". /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I actually had a couple of people tell me they know red is stop; green is go; but they don't know what yellow is for! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Big_A · May 3, 2004

My day job is working for a small Virginia city as a traffic signal electrician. The MUTCD, which is the federal standard in traffic control, is adopted by the local juristictions. It is not mandatory, however, the "brains" of signalized intersections will not allow the locality to set the min yellow time to less then 3 seconds.

Red light cameras often work on speed sensors that are set a certian distance from the intersection. They calculate your speed versus the min yellow time. If this number crosses a certian threshold, the camera will start taking pictures.

My City has not yet gotten these cameras but we do use cameras for vehicle detection. It's funny listening to people around here talk about the cameras as a "big brother" type thing when all they are there for is to serve the phase they detect.

One thing we are doing to help stop red light running is to put in an all red time. Meaning that all the lights will hold red for a preset amount of time before allowing the next phase to go green. We have also INCREASED our yellow times to help.

It all comes back to personal responsibility, if you don't have it, then the government will do it for you.