Monday, Sep 17,2012
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According to a recent study conducted by researchers at Virginia Tech, the timing of yellow traffic lights could have a significant effect on auto accident frequency.
Hesham Rakha, director of the Center for Sustainable Mobility at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, is conducting research to determine whether a change in the duration of yellow lights has a significant effect on collisions.
According to Rakha, more than 20 percent of all traffic fatalities in the country happen at stoplights. Rakha believes that this is due to something called the "dilemma zone," which is caused by yellow lights.
Dilemma zones, according to Rakha, occur when the driver has no choice but to run a red light due to a short yellow light. They can't safely stop without causing a rear-ending accident, but they also can't make it through the intersection without the light turning red. It is during the dilemma zone that cars are at the highest risk for auto accidents.
On solution proposed by industry analysts is to alert drivers when green lights are about to become yellow, which would give them more time to prepare for the stop. This kind of transition could reduce accidents, which could help many drivers get reduced auto insurance rates through the safe driving discounts offered by most insurers.
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