Assembly Democrats Tim Eustace and Joseph Lagana (Both D-Bergen, Passaic) recently introduced legislation to establish a statutory standard duration of the amber/yellow light signal at intersections with a traffic control signal.
Municipalities are currently not allowed to alter the length of the yellow light. The sponsors’ intent is to establish standard yellow light duration times and ensure that the speed of the roadway is also taken into consideration.
“We want to prevent more accidents at intersections and ensure that drivers have ample enough time to stop for a red light,” said Eustace. “Traffic safety should not only be about catching drivers who run red lights. It must also include making necessary changes to ensure drivers are given the appropriate amount of time to adjust their speed.”
“A car driving on a 45 mph road will need a few more seconds to come to a stop than a car traveling on a road with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less,” said Lagana. “It’s very simple. With this legislation, we can ensure there is a minimum standard set for yellow lights at every New Jersey intersection.”
The sponsors’ note that a couple seconds may not seem like a lot but it can make a big difference in safety at traffic intersections as other states have proven. States, including Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia and California, have found that a modest increase to the yellow light signal duration can help reduce red light-running and traffic accidents.
Under the bill’s (A-4059) provisions, amber light is required to have a minimum duration of:
(a) four seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of 30 miles per hour or less;
(b) four and one half seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more than 30 miles per hour but less than or equal to 35 miles per hour;
(c) five seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more than 35 miles per hour but less or equal to 40 miles per hour;
(d) five an done half seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more that 40 miles per hour but less than or equal to 45 miles per hour;
(e) six seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more than 45 miles per hour but less than or equal to 50 miles per hour;
(f) six an done half seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more than 50 miles per hour but less than or equal to 55 miles per hour; and;
(g) seven seconds if at least 85 percent of the vehicular traffic approaching the signal is traveling at a speed of more than 55 miles per hour. withdrawal
“The road speed must be appropriately considered when factoring traffic light timing,” continued Eustace. “This is about driver safety and giving drivers enough time to stop for the light.’
“Setting a specific duration for amber lights based on speed of road is a part of efficient regulation of traffic intersections,” added Lagana. “The length of amber traffic lights should provide ample time for a driver to react responsibly and appropriately.”
[TLS]
They could also make ALL traffic signals show red for ALL directions for a few seconds. That way everyone must come to a full stop for those few seconds which would allow cars to clear the intersection.
They should do this in NYC were the yellow light are like 2 seconds
A yellow light duration is strictly based on the speed limit. Politicians are idiots making bills and not knowing what is in place already. The standard is the speed limit divided by 10. So in a 40 mph zone the yellow is 4 seconds. Two factors are a lot are distracted and don’t see when the light turned yellow. Second factor is a lot of drivers think yellow means go faster. Never was a problem before but sadly the fact is people are less attentive to driving and need to observe the speed limits.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is the national standard for all traffic signals. It includes the above calculation provided by ‘Most Have No Clue’. It is based on study and agreement of the 50 states DOT commissioners. For an knowledgeable politician to create a new standard would be illogical, illegal, and very dangerous. Too much amber time would cause vehicles to take more advantage of the amber time and enter the intersection later and later. It is a terrible idea.
Additionally, the MUTCD sets the all red time for intersections mentioned by ‘Anonymous’ above. It’s a shame that uneducated politicians can’t do 5 seconds of research before wasting peoples time with nonsense.