Link

This looks like a pretty good idea to me.

 

The basics:

Their idea is to put a marking of some sort before a red light that helps to tell you if you should stop or continue through an intersection if it turns yellow based on the length of the yellow and the distance to the light.

My comments:
This was probably one of the hardest things for me while learning to drive was to determine when I had enough time to stop or go... I used the turn lane if one existed (on most major roads it existed) because they usually give you enough time to slow down in the turn lanes so you don't need to slow down the rest of the traffic (while some people don't understand this concept and start slowing down 10 miles before their turn....). HOWEVER I don't think that this would work that well because there are too many variables, but would become a huge issue for the state as far as "at fault" and for tickets "but officer, I was past the mark when it turned yellow" (while they were doing 5 under the speed limit so it took them longer to reach the light and it turned red just as they got to it and kept going). I honestly see it causing more problems than it will solve. On edit: Oh and if the timing is changed at all (or think of when the light is controlled manually) then the marking would be innacurate.

The solution: If you're familiar with the area then you should be comfortable driving in the area. If you're uncomfortable driving in an area then you should drive more conservatively.

 

Newer stoplights at major intersections in mainland China have a large countdown display to indicate when the light will change from green to red and vice versa. Of course, stoplights in China also appear to be more of a guideline than anything

 

If I could only get my hands on one of these... Problem solved... Davis and Southlake Blvd, no problem! Just not worth the risk of going to the can when caught!

MIRT

 

Damn -- those are expensive signs!

This actually sounds like it could work... as long as the timing remained consistent. But Doug has some good points on the liability issues.

Sigh; why can't it be as easy as "I was in an accident when my light was red. It's my fault"? Oh... forgot, we're humans.

Damn.

 

But you're missing the point, the red light cameras are all about raising revenue. How will these signs help?

Yes, I think from a driver's perspective it would be much easier to judge, kinda like a corner cone, but the cites won't like it due to decreased revenue.

Lives saved be damned!!

 

Though I'm generally all about personal responsibility and standing up for your actions, even I would never openly admit fault in a car accident.

People are SOOOOOO litigious these days that you've got to try to protect yourself even if you DID do something wrong.

(BTW - I wouldn't lie either... I'd just try not to get into it at the scene)

 

Heh... yea, that damn litigation BS would keep my mouth shut as well. (No matter if I am at fault or not, saying the wrong thing can screw you just as much if you are in the right as if you are in the wrong).

 

I think it would be hard to get a city to pay $3500 per intersection for these things. Many cities don't have such a big red-light running problem, and the ones that do only have a it certain intersections. It's still a good idea, but I think it will be hard to sell in reality.

Plus this:

Which definitely makes it harder to sell.

Why don't they just turn the yellow light into a counting yellow light. Like when the light turns yellow it will be a yellow "3" or something, and it will count down like 3, 2, 1 and then turns red. In second increments or whatever. That why I will have more information on makeing that decision about running it or not.