eLightBulbs Lighting Blog > LED Light Bulb Timers for Stoplights Would Be Nice

I wish timers would be added to stoplights; specifically, for the duration of the yellow light (Red and Green lights are dynamic, so timers wouldn't work, but Yellow lights are static for each speed limit).  Many times I have been driving along and expecting to go through the next green light when it turns yellow.  Then the super-annoying happens: you're in that perfectly aggravating position where if you speed up you just might make it, but you could be pulled over for speeding and you might still run a red light; or, you can slow down and stop but you'll ravage your car's brakes.

 

The aforementioned situation is a perfect Morton's fork.  I've never come to a solid decision on which choice to make.  Every time it really depends on my precise positioning and my perception of how much undue wear I would cause my brakes if I slam them for the yellow light, or how likely it would be that I could get through the intersection before the light turns red.

 

LED Light Bulbs to the Rescue

 

In either case, a small timer to the side of the yellow light would resolve both issues!  I've been reading about various counties and municipalities switching their traffic lights from incandescent to LED light bulbs.  It would be wonderful if a small LED timer could be added to the side of the yellow light portion of stop lights.  I've seen timers added to LED walk signs, which let you know if you need to walk faster or continue casually walking across the road.  Such a timer added to yellow lights would allow drivers to easily gauge how long until the light turns red, and thus simplify the dreaded yellow light decision.

 

I wouldn't even mind a slight tax added to finance these timers.  It just doesn't seem like it would be a significant expenditure to add yellow light stoplight timers when LED light bulb stoplight retrofits are already underway.