Drivers may not have sufficient time to react to a Yellow light before it turns
to red and traffic on the cross street starts to move into the intersection. One
solution might be to lengthen the time of the Yellow phase of a traffic signal
sequence. Chapter 4 of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/kno-millennium_12.18.00.htm)
covers traffic signals. Section 4D.10 of the MUTCD says that the yellow clearance
time should be between 3 and 6 seconds and "may be followed by a red clearance
interval to provide additional time before conflicting traffic movements are released."
The red clearance interval should not exceed 6 seconds.
Extending the signal timing in an instance like this might also be of benefit
to pedestrians. The additional time in the traffic signal sequence might be added
to the time given to pedestrians to cross the road, effectively creating a "Leading
Pedestrian Interval".
http://www.walkinginfo.org/de/signals/upgrade/index.htm |
