Do I sense some road rage?

Been there and done that. There are certain lights I face on my route to work every day that are GUARANTEED to turn red just as I'm approaching. I think there's some mischevious little elf on top of the pole who is just waiting for my car to approach so he can flip the switch.

I've also wondered if there isn't a better way. I used to love driving downtown where the lights were synchronized. Why can't they do the same on other major streets?

As far as saving gas on idling and acceleration, drivers could help themselves some if they didn't feel the need to race to beat the other guy to the next red light.

Eliminate red lights.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/04/ntraffic04.xml

When are those traffic idiots going to get a clue? It's a disgrace that Joseph P. Mitchell should have to wait at traffic lights. We should understand Joseph P. Mitchell's driving habits better and make sure the lights always turn green with Joseph P. Mitchell approaches.

This morning I drove at the posted speed limit west on 70 from close to Alamance County to the east part of downtown Greensboro on Market Street. This is the same time as I normally do my commute and generally hit four for of five red lights. Difference? There were few cars, no school buses, no trucks today. I had no red lights the entire trip.

Maybe the traffic imp just likes me?

"Maybe the traffic imp just likes me?"

Could you put in a good word for me?

Pragmatist,

Mitchell has a valid point. He's not saying he's never supposed to sit through a red light; he's saying that the lights could be coordinated better. There are ways to coordinate the lights to create a far better traffic flow, namely synchronizing parallel streets' lights with one another with a slight offset. One example of where they did this correctly is westbound Friendly Avenue downtown. If you start, say, at Elm and head west on Friendly, you may have to stop at that first light, but then each successive light will turn green just as you approach it.

Of course, as I mentioned above, it would be best to eliminate red lights altogether.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/04/ntraffic04.xml

Paul, I'm sure you're right on target about the traffic lights. My response had more to do with the arrogance of the LTE writer than it did with traffic control. I was with this guy until the third sentence, when his letter abruptly plunged into self-aggrandizement.
I was mocking his haughtiness, not hawking his righteousness.

I don't mind the traffic lights so much if the intersection makes sense. I know of at least one series of intersections that leaves me completely baffled: Wendover Avenue at I-40 and Stanley Road. What were they thinking when they designed that mess? It's not that old; it's been in its present state for about ten years or so. Why can't they fix it so that people understand how it works?

Mr. Elledge, the idea of doing away with traffic lights altogether is intriguing. I have one question, though: how large was the city/town that eliminated most of its lights? I also personally dislike traffic circles/roundabouts, but I can be open-minded about these things.

"I have one question, though: how large was the city/town that eliminated most of its lights?"

The article says 50,000 people and 15 sets of lights. I wouldn't think the size would matter though. It seems to me the principles at work in Drachten should scale up to larger cities.

Yes, most traffic light configurations can be drastically upgraded!

I've been touring the U.S. for 3 years now; document traffic congestion in most every major city and I see it ALL the time.

It may be a shock to many but some cities WANT to stop everyone and make them re-accelerate all over again... If we think about it, this is one reason why people speed from one light to the next.

...In Portland, OR., I was even told that the mayor publically stated that he wanted to make driving so harendous (sp) that people would quit driving! WOW!

I seriously doubt that any government official will take proper actions to upgrade traffic lights... that is unless 'we the people' take a stand for better traffic flow and not just leave it up to them to figure it out on their own.

So, I've spent several months creating a site for 'we the people' so that we can 'come together for a brighter future'.

www.SaveGasNow.org is a free membership site with the intention of uniting individuals so that we can 'prevent gas price gouging', start to eliminate mass traffic congestion and over all have a better experience on the road.

And upgrading traffic light configurations is a key element in achieving smooth traffic flow that saves gas, time and money.

But I seriously doubt that anyone will do anything until WE come together and demand a change for the better.

Hunter
www.savegasnow.org
"Coming Together For A Brighter Future"
"Over 247 free gas saving tips"