When the light went out at Rt1 & Major / Sandhill

The other day we had a big storm. (In case you hadn't noticed) And the traffic light went out on Route 1 at Sand Hill / Major Road. It failed with blinking yellow on the Route One side and blinking red on the Sand Hill / Major Road sides.

It was unfortunate that I was just coming home then. It was before the "blue light gang" arrived to put some order into chaos. I was wishing I had my video camera. I thought I was going to have a front row seat at 'nascar like' pile up.

I waited patiently to execute my personal 'plan b' --- no way I was going to try to get across Route 1 without a light to restrain the North or Southbound traffic. I'd resolved to take a right and go to Northumberland or as far as needed to get across safely. Seemed like common sense to me.

But as one cynic once said "common sense ain't too common"!

I watched in horror as person after person forced their way across the rush hour traffic to make a left on to northbound route one. They had to be INSANE!

Any way, no wrecks occurred that I saw, and by the time, I had executed Plan B, the "blue light gang" had seized control of the intersection on each side forcing traffic right. (As any intelligent person would do.)

Upon reflection, I knew in my heart that the gooferment was at fault. It took me a minute to throw off the socialist indoctrination to find it. But I did! The gooferment selected a dangerous failure mode.

The answer was simple. The lights should fail green on Route 1 and SOLID red on the cross road. The driver stopped at the red light would soon realize it was "stuck" and seek an alternative --- RIGHT TURN ON RED.

No risk of accidents. At least no more risk than we have already. No "blue light gang" needed. They can go back to trapping speeders with radar traps earning money for the gooferment.

Any way, thought I'd suggest that the next time you happen upon the "light out" scenario, think "Right On Red" as opposed to Crash - Boom - Bang?

reinkefj
http://www.reinkefaceslife.com

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