Perhaps my biggest irritation with city/town infrastructure, is when the city planners have no concept of stoplight theory.

Think about it for a minute. Two cars are approaching a stoplight from the same distance and at the same rate. The green side changes to yellow as the cars are four car lengths away, stopping that car. Both cars have to stop. Why?

Seriously, why? Who plans this?

Doesn’t it make sense, since the car approaching the red will have to stop anyway, to add a buffer to allow the moving cars to continue moving? Why not add a buffer of, say twelve seconds, from the time the car on the red side touches the sensor. This gives the approaching/moving cars an opportunity to clear the light, for say, half a block to a block.

Obviously, we can’t keep them flowing forever, although this delay may need to be increased in high traffic areas... but in a small-ish town, this will be more than adequate. Then, of course, when the light changes, the same rule applies.

By allowing the traffic to move in batches, we have a more efficient flow of traffic.

When the stoplight favors the vehicle approaching the red, then changes immediately after they leave the plate, the light is really about as effective as a four-way stop.

Of course, the city planners don’t care about things like that. And for some reason, I’m not qualified for that job, even though I understand stoplight theory, at least.

Maybe it’d be worth my while to pursue the necessary schooling. I’m not sure I can bear the thought of going back to school for anything though... and spending exorbitant amounts of money.

Something to think about I suppose. What kind of training does that job entail?