Crosswalk Countdown Signals

Installed over the past 5-10 years, crosswalk countdown signals are designed to let pedestrians know how much time they have left to cross the street. Useful, you might say, such a system may increase the safety of crosswalkers, particularly at big intersections in big cities. Then why am I including this on my blog? These indicators have an adverse byproduct, signaling to drivers how much time they have to get through the intersection.

This is how it goes: I see the flashing red hand. It tells me how many seconds I have left before the light turns red (definitely 8 or less). I gauge how far away I am from the intersection, while also taking into account the brief amount of time the light will be yellow (by the way, the yellow lights in LA are SO short. I swear they are at least twice as long in San Diego). I make sure there are no cars turning left across my path, because we all know they are unpredictable and just waiting to t-bone me. I also check for red light cameras, because a ticket is certainly not worth it. Assuming everything lines up, I jam the gas pedal to the floor (a very powerful move in my automatic Hyundai Elantra, mach 3 at least) and fly through the intersection, leaving everyone else behind to wait through a full cycle before they can go.

The worst is when you are driving behind someone and you assume they are thinking the same thing you are, but they reduce their speed instead. “Why do you follow the traffic lights as they are meant to be observed?!” you ask, “now I have to sit here for another 3 or 4 minutes before I can cross.” Oh well, that’s what smartphones were invented for. When do you think I check Facebook or play Words with Friends?

My friend Annie says the countdown is useful. As she drives a manual automobile (it came all the way from Germany, she picked it up there any everything), it lets her know when to start putting her car into gear. Either way, still not what they were designed for. Crosswalk countdown signals = fail.