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Florida DOT Cuts Yellow Light Delay Ignoring Federal Guidelines, Citations Soar
New submitter zlives writes in with news that Florida's DOT changed some language in their yellow light timing regulations, leading to a decrease in the yellow delay. Especially at lights with red light cameras. "From the article: 'Red light cameras generated more than $100 million in revenue last year in approximately 70 Florida communities, with 52.5 percent of the revenue going to the state. The rest is divided by cities, counties, and the camera companies. In 2013, the cameras are on pace to generate $120 million.' I wonder what the camera company cut is?"
At least one area has promised to undo the reduction now that they have been caught.
Why does this have to be about safety.
FIRST) From what I understand, the difference in light duration is because they changed the formula. Instead of using the speed that they assume people are traveling, they are now using the speed which is posted. It's not some arbitrary difference that some red-light camera company man came up with. (if this is not actually the case, someone prove me wrong).
SECOND) You only get a ticket if you enter the intersection AFTER the light has gone red.
Full disclosure, 4 years ago we here very nearly hit square on by someone blowing through a "yellow" light. Instead of killing both me and my wife (our sedan vs her lifted SUV), she just ran over our hood. If we had been 2 feet further into the intersection, I would most likely not be here typing this message. I have ZERO sympathy for people who try to beat red lights. The equations they use to determine the yellow light duration take stopping distance into account. The laws shouldn't be wrtitten just because you are going 10mph over the speed limit, and can't safely stop in time.
Stop speeding, stop running yellow lights, stop bitching.
There are 10 types of people in the world. Those that understand this sig, and those that beat up people who do.
You're right: every country should have no effective government, like a Somalia or what Syria is quickly sliding into. These are really archetypes of the great things that can happen without a strong government. Those idiots living in first world countries with their horribly modern medical care, the inverse of widespread famines, and atrociously low murder rates per capita just don't how good they could have it if they would just dissolve their governments.
Because the word "primary" actually has a meaning.
OH NOS!!!! THEY MIGHT GET TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING BEFORE YOU GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING!!!! THE HORROR!!!!
Yes, I hate douchbags that cut me off too. No, it doesn't ruin my day unless they're driving really crazy. It doesn't happen often enough to matter. This is the equivalent of those assholes that will do 10MPH under the speed limit - until you try to pass them. Get over yourself - your time is no more important than anyone elses, and you *do* have control over when you leave to make your appointments, meaning: Plan ahead for God's sake and use your grey matter a little.