February 15, 2011 – Been Spending Most Our Lives Sitting at Successive Traffic Lights

I have to say, fixing this problem is one of the main reasons I accepted the position of Queen of the World.  There are few things in this world that make me madder than sitting at a red light, driving straight for a block or two, and then sitting at the subsequent red light.  Depending on the road and the timing of the lights a two-mile stretch can easily take twenty minutes.  Don’t believe me?  Come on out to my house and see for yourself.  Someone needs to regulate the timing of red lights so that they allow traffic to flow better.  Oftentimes it is also necessary for lights to be on different schedules for different times of the day.  Rush hours may necessitate favoring one direction of traffic at intersections versus others to ease congestion.  Essentially, every situation is going to require individual and continual analysis to create traffic light patterns that are best for each area.  This analysis (and subsequent fine-tuning of the system) needs to take place and it needs to take place regularly.

At least one traffic light timing specialist must be appointed to analyze and ameliorate the traffic light timing patterns for each zip code.  A full analysis of the system must be carried out quarterly.

Now if you happen to live in an area where traffic light timing is not an issue feel free to give an existing civil servant the additional title and responsibilities of “traffic light timing specialist”.  I have no problem with having a Mayor/Traffic Light Timing Specialist who goes out and looks at the traffic patterns surrounding your town’s two traffic lights, quickly determines that they function fine, and then goes on with his/her other duties.  In many areas however, departments with multiple employees will be necessary to analyze and fine-tune traffic light timing patterns.  I consider these jobs to be VERY important as I expect swift results.  The next time I sit at three red lights in succession on the same street, heads will roll!

As always I remain your all-powerful and benevolent Queen of the World,

Marisa