Nevada traffic lights...

[left footed whooten]

Since I'm a California transplant, the one thing I noticed when I first started frequenting Reno is how the traffic lights change here. Now, in Cali they lag for second or three, meaning when one turns red, the other takes about 3 seconds to change. Here, they change immediately, one goes red while the other goes green. So this means that when some douche decides to run the red, or make the light, it already green for other traffic.....and pedestrians...and bikes. Ive seen little old ladies nearly mowed down when trying to cross the street, and have had some close calls myself both in and out of cars. This seems like a gigantic safety issue, how the heck can this be legal/ programmed by risk mgmt or the engineer, etc? I've never seen this until here, and Ive driven in like 40-something states..

[Nick Koan]

A better improvement on safety would be if people stopped running red lights.

[Kevin M]

Reno/Washoe/other local traffic engineers just don't get it here man. They also leave way too many unprotected left turns.

[left footed whooten]

It just blows my mind....haven't people ALREADY died or miraculously has no one yet?

[JonnydaJibba]

Are the unprotected left turns the ones where you are turning left and have a green, but oncoming has a green as well?

[left footed whooten]

I believe so, and those aren't bad if the logistics of the intersection permit it, but there are too many that are just asking for trouble. Sinclair and California for example, turning left onto sinclair from Cal ave is just scary because you cant see past other cars who are turning left the other way, plus its a blind downhill.

[MPREZIV]

There are SOME lights that do allow that 3 second lag between the previous red, and the upcoming green, but not many really. I just make my own lag, and sit at the intersection until I can be assured that the cross traffic is actually going to STOP. I get honked at a lot...

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

I get honked at a lot...

Damn honkies!!

[JonnydaJibba]

Originally Posted by MPREZIV

I get honked at a lot...

I think it's because they think somebody abandoned a car at the signal...

[M3n2c3]

Originally Posted by MikeK

Damn honkies!!

This is doubly hilarious because it came from Mike.

[AtomicLabMonkey]

Here in NC they definitely program a lag between changes, because so many people run the red lights. It's pretty ridiculous. I can't count the times I've shaved it close as a light was turning, thought "that was close, I could have stopped for that one", looked up in the mirror and watched 2-3 more cars follow me through on a blatantly red light.

[DARKSTI]

Originally Posted by BAN SUVS

Reno/Washoe/other local traffic engineers just don't get it here man. They also leave way too many unprotected left turns.

Yeap, with the exception of a few places, they fvcked up on pretty much everything.

[sperry]

I'd just settle for lights that don't turn red because you're approaching them. Or the ability to drive the speed limit down Virgina and have all greens instead of stopping at every cross street, sometimes twice. Timed lights were invented in the 50's I'm pretty sure.

[DARKSTI]

Originally Posted by sperry

I'd just settle for lights that don't turn red because you're approaching them. Or the ability to drive the speed limit down Virgina and have all greens instead of stopping at every cross street, sometimes twice. Timed lights were invented in the 50's I'm pretty sure.

Yeah, I hate that. I like how when they arent doing construction, the light at Robb and Mae Anne after peak hours will turn green pretty quick once you get up to it.

[left footed whooten]

I have also never seen the "honk at the light to make it change" or "flash your brights at it to make it change" so often. I see so many people doing it, and it doesnt do anything. Time after time the asshat next to me will be flicking brights or honking at the light. I think it just gives them something to do until the light changes at its preprogrammed interval, so they think it works.

[JC]

Originally Posted by AtomicLabMonkey

Here in NC they definitely program a lag between changes, because so many people run the red lights. It's pretty ridiculous. I can't count the times I've shaved it close as a light was turning, thought "that was close, I could have stopped for that one", looked up in the mirror and watched 2-3 more cars follow me through on a blatantly red light.

Same way here. We have long yellows and a delay but people still blow through red lights.

[Kevin M]

Actually, having the delay tends to encourage people running lights. They know they have another 2-3 seconds and they use it. Statistically, length of yellows has a much bigger impact on safety than longer delays.

[sperry]

Originally Posted by JC

Same way here. We have long yellows and a delay but people still blow through red lights.

A real solution is to have a massive steel barrier pop up in the middle of the intersection during the inter-light delay.

That, plus the replacement of all airbags with 9" steel spikes, would do wonders to increase driver awareness.

[left footed whooten]

Originally Posted by sperry

A real solution is to have a massive steel barrier pop up in the middle of the intersection during the inter-light delay.

That, plus the replacement of all airbags with 9" steel spikes, would do wonders to increase driver awareness.

mmmmm.....mmmhmmmm....you're on to something there. They should prototype on SUV's and neons/calibers.

[Bob Danger]

Originally Posted by sperry

A real solution is to have a massive steel barrier pop up in the middle of the intersection during the inter-light delay.

That, plus the replacement of all airbags with 9" steel spikes, would do wonders to increase driver awareness.

Scott For President!