You’re driving at a rapid speed and the traffic light turns yellow. Do you slow down or go faster? Depending on the speed limit for that road, it determines how many seconds that yellow light is there before it turns red.
This can be a funny topic to write about, but it could make a big safety difference for everyone who drives, which is most of us. Having a yellow light last longer could prevent major car accidents at intersections or even deaths.
In North Carolina, the time a yellow light appears is three to six seconds. Six seconds seems like enough time, but definitely not three seconds. If everyone was aware of how much time they have, then we would not have to estimate how much time we have to either slam the brakes or hit the gas.
North Carolina should have only one timer that is five seconds long, not a range of time to guess, no matter the speed limit.
“If the miles per hour on a road is 45, then the yellow light is usually yellow for three seconds, but it doesnt help for people that speed and need more time to brake. It can cause a rear-ended crash for the people behind you, or you running through a red risking a side collision,” said sophomore Shaley Sill.
Running red lights is one of the most common causes of car crashes in America. If we fix the time to just be five seconds everywhere, then it could save people’s lives in the car. Newer drivers have a hard time trying to guess, so if everyone was taught in Drivers Ed about the exact time, then everyone would have better confidence driving and not panic when they come across a traffic light.
This is something that we use everyday and should be looked at further from professionals for everyone’s protection. It could make parents worry less about their new drivers and you being a passenger.
