Alderman Suarez Proposes Count Down Timers At All Red Light Camera Intersections
Alderman Proposes Countdowns with Red-Light Cameras: MyFoxCHICAGO.com
Alderman Ray Suarez (31st) wants to resurrect the idea of installing pedestrian count down timers at all intersections with red light camera enforcement, to help drivers know how much time is left before the light turns yellow.
According to Fox Chicago News and the Chicago Sun-Times, Suarez proposed the idea on Wednesday.
This same idea was floated by Ald. Anthony Beale (9th) about two years ago, but never went anywhere due to the high cost. According to CDOT the cost to install timers would be $15,000 – $45,000 per intersection or about $8.5 million dollars for outfitting all 189 RLC intersections.
Suarez says the red light intersection with countdown timers in his ward have helped drivers–especially senior citizens who he says need more time to react.
CDOT’s Brian Steele says countdown timers are for pedestrians, are not intended to be used by drivers and perhaps constitute a dangerous distraction for drivers who should be looking ahead–not at the timer.
This is interesting, and it may be part of a larger issue depending on how you interpret the latest traffic control device regulations. The 2009 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) states that “the countdown display is optional for Pedestrian Change Intervals of 7 seconds or less.” Existing pedestrian signal heads (lackiing countdown timers) may “remain for the remainder of their useful life,” but these pedestrian signal heads for most intersections are now standard and will be required anyway when the signal is upgraded.
Regardless of whether motorists should be using them to assess the amount of remaining green time at the signal, it is desirable to install them wherever CDOT is performing signal improvements to improve information provided to pedestrians and motorists.
I bet increasing the yellow light times a bit is a lot cheaper.
Regardless of their initial intention, if countdown timers will help pedestrians and motorists alike it’s a great thing. Of course engineering the signal timings set to proper traffic engineering standards will give all traffic the safest environment.
The Ticket Doctor
More stuff we don’t need. Ban the Cams!