Comments on: Forget Red Light Cameras, We Need Yellow Light Lines

By: Jon Lorber

Jon Lorber — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:22:39 +0000

I found this because I had the same idea. It’s really great but the one problem I came up with – what happens when someone is driving under the speed limit because of traffic or weather?

I’m also trying to figure out the thought process that goes through the mind when your at the line when it changes. You will need a split second to think about it.

By: Jonathan Miller

Jonathan Miller — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 19:15:47 +0000

When I am driving I always have identified this line in my mind. I call it the “point of no return”. While the light is still green, once I cross that line in my mind, I know that I will continue on even if the light turns yellow. Therefore I have already decided what to do before the light turns yellow. Still the line would help.

By: Mike F.

Mike F. — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 23:28:25 +0000

In Washington it is not illegal to deliberately drive through a yellow light. A yellow light means only that traffic facing the light is “warned” that a red light will soon follow. As long as your vehicle entered the intersection or passed the crosswalk or limit line before the light turned red, you haven’t broken the law. Driving Laws

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:52:06 +0000

What happens when traffic is moving slower than the speed limit? Seems like in poor weather condition or areas/times when traffic moves more slowly that the yellow lines could risk indicating to a driver that they have more time than they actually do.

By: Greg

Greg — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 10:10:59 +0000

In reply to Steve B. Steve's right. You need to include a bit of graft to incentivize city officials to adopt this.

By: Nick Wood

Nick Wood — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 05:47:05 +0000

This is the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. I’m about to go pick up some yellow paint right now.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 04:00:36 +0000

This is a great idea!

By: Joel

Joel — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:45:23 +0000

They have something similar in British Columbia that is very effective. There is a sign ahead of intersections (essentially the same place where you propose your line) which says something to the effect of light changing when flashing. If the lights start to flash before you pass then you will not make the light….it’s accurate as well, I’ve tried. The result is that if you see the lights you let off the gas and brake slowly.

By: The Tim

The Tim — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:13:15 +0000

In reply to Ken K. The point of this idea is to improve safety, not just to strictly adhere to minimum legal requirements. While it is certainly legal to be barely inside the intersection when the light turns red and continue through during the red light, it would be safest for all drivers to completely clear the intersection by the time the light turns red. The yellow light line gives them drivers information that can help them drive more safely.

By: Ken K

Ken K — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:01:03 +0000

I like the thinking but there is no need for this. Here is the RCW: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.055

It is perfectly fine to be crossing the entrance to the intersection when the light turns red as long as one enters the intersection when the light is yellow. (See section 3 of above law).

By: Alex Francis Burchard

Alex Francis Burchard — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 15:07:40 +0000

That’s a really neat idea, I look forward to some progressive places implementing it! It would make driving a lot less judgement based, and a lot easier to do.

By: The Tim

The Tim — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 00:33:35 +0000

In reply to Steve B.

Well technically if “you’ve passed the yellow line” when the light turns yellow then you’ll also have completely cleared the intersection by the time the light turns red. If the yellow line is halfway under your car, I suppose you’re in an in-between state, neither “behind the yellow line” nor past it.

Still though, while it may technically be illegal to have not completely cleared the intersection by the time the light turns red, I don’t think there would really be a safety issue if half of your car is still in the intersection for a fraction of a second when the cross traffic gets a green.

You’re definitely spot-on with the major problem you cite though. It’s not expensive enough nor does it pay anyone, so it’s unlikely most governments would want to implement it.

By: Steve B

Steve B — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 23:55:29 +0000

One major problem: insufficient opportunity for graft (to quote a popular online pundit).

One minor problem: may need to add an additional distance in the calculation to accommodate the average length of cars/trucks since technically the entirety of the vehicle needs to be out of the intersection before the red light goes on. I don’t know what that would be? 10 feet or 12 feet?