Oregon Engineer Makes History With New Traffic Light Timing Formula

[ChrisSmolinski]

The vote vindicates the theory of Mats Järlström, who was fined $500 by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying for publicly criticizing traffic light timing without first obtaining a professional engineering license.

https://ij.org/press-release/oregon-engineer-makes-history-with-new-traffic-light-timing-formula/

[KaySeeks]

They could use some revision to the light timing formula in California. I've never seen such ridiculously short yellow lights anywhere else in the world.

[redhat]

The vote vindicates the theory of Mats Järlström, who was fined $500 by the Oregon State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying for publicly criticizing traffic light timing without first obtaining a professional engineering license.

https://ij.org/press-release/oregon-engineer-makes-history-with-new-traffic-light-timing-formula/

Fined $500 for public criticism?  So much for freedom of speech.

...And they tried to force a gag order on him to boot.  Nice state government they got there.

+-RH

[Charlie_Dont_Surf]

They could use some revision to the light timing formula in California. I've never seen such ridiculously short yellow lights anywhere else in the world.

Yup.

Depends upon where you are but where I am, in certain parts of town, you won't even be able to get halfway across the road in a car before the light turns yellow for about 0.25 to 0.5 seconds then red. There are certain lights where it is virtually impossible to not be running a red light making a left turn unless you own a car with fantastic acceleration.

[Matt285]

Traffic signal controllers will not go go any lower than 5 seconds of Green and no lower than 2.5 secs of Yellow timing most cases are 2.5-3. The controller will not except values any lower. Source- I program them.

[Matt285]

If the posted speed limit is 25 (or less) mph the minimum yellow interval is 3.0 seconds (this includes both right and left hand turns). * If the posted speed limit is 35 mph the minimum yellow interval is 3.6 seconds. If the posted speed limit is 45 mph the minimum yellow interval is 4.3 seconds. These timings come into play a lot in cases where Red light running cameras are. There have been cases where incorrect (too short) Yellow timings were programmed and the cases were thrown out. Many other factors come into play also, especially if you have intuitive systems (they're not always so intuitive) Preemption, Pedestrian crossings etc.

[Charlie_Dont_Surf]

Traffic signal controllers will not go go any lower than 5 seconds of Green and no lower than 2.5 secs of Yellow timing most cases are 2.5-3. The controller will not except values any lower. Source- I program them.

OK, but it appears that you are not programming them out here.

[Matt285]

This is true.