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PKRWUD · 04-02-2002, 02:03 AM

No, I didn't read the Pheonix report, but I did hear all about the San Diego mess. I've read dozens of letters to the editor suggesting that the length of time a light remains a certain color have been modified to increase the amount of people breaking the law, but Ventura swears that has not happened here. From my experience, I believe them. One of the things I really like about driving in Ventura, is the way the traffic lights are timed. This was well thought out, and has remained largely unchanged throughout the years. Any driver that pays attention becomes aware of what color other lights will be when you get there, based on the one you're currently at. For example, I know that when the light going southbound on Victoria, at Telephone, turns green, I will not have to stop again, through 7 more traffic lights, until I exit the freeway in some other town, provided I maintain an average of 35 to 40 mph. This includes driving through 5 straight forward lights, and two right hand turn lights, the last of which is at the 101 Freeway southbound onramp. This gets even better. I know that when I leave my house, and the light at Thille St and Victoria turns green, allowing me to turn left onto northbound Victoria, I will make the next light, by the 126 freeway, regardless of how fast I drive, AND, if I maintain 70 mph on the freeway, I will encounter traffic entering the 101 freeway (after the 126 joins the 101) from Main Street, 4 miles away. If I drive over 75 on the freeway, between those two points, I pass the Main Street onramp just ahead of the traffic that is coming on from the light that just changed on Main Street. This is true throughout the city. I can tell you what color the lights will be at any freeway offramp in the city, based on when I get on the freeway, and the last green light I went through. The only time these vary is between 10pm and 6am, and on Sunday after 6pm. At these times, the lights change due to traffic that has tripped the signal via in-road weights/scales.

The point I'm getting to is that these things haven't changed since the cameras went in, and I think if they had, there would have been a difference.

Also, the way Ventura worked things out, the company who builds and installs the cameras (some company in Australia) did them for free, but they get a high percentage (75-80) of the revenue that is generated for the first 5 years, and then they get a smaller percentage in the years following. They might even get 100% for the first 2 years, I really don't remember, but I do remember reading recently about how the revenue being generated was well below the anticipated amount.

I do find that as I get older, I drive alot more responsibly. It get's boring sometimes, but I'm okay with it. I think that makes it much easier for me to stop for lights. I seem to remember it being alot tougher for me 10 years ago.

Take care,
-Chris

04-02-2002, 02:03 AM	#5
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	No, I didn't read the Pheonix report, but I did hear all about the San Diego mess. I've read dozens of letters to the editor suggesting that the length of time a light remains a certain color have been modified to increase the amount of people breaking the law, but Ventura swears that has not happened here. From my experience, I believe them. One of the things I really like about driving in Ventura, is the way the traffic lights are timed. This was well thought out, and has remained largely unchanged throughout the years. Any driver that pays attention becomes aware of what color other lights will be when you get there, based on the one you're currently at. For example, I know that when the light going southbound on Victoria, at Telephone, turns green, I will not have to stop again, through 7 more traffic lights, until I exit the freeway in some other town, provided I maintain an average of 35 to 40 mph. This includes driving through 5 straight forward lights, and two right hand turn lights, the last of which is at the 101 Freeway southbound onramp. This gets even better. I know that when I leave my house, and the light at Thille St and Victoria turns green, allowing me to turn left onto northbound Victoria, I will make the next light, by the 126 freeway, regardless of how fast I drive, AND, if I maintain 70 mph on the freeway, I will encounter traffic entering the 101 freeway (after the 126 joins the 101) from Main Street, 4 miles away. If I drive over 75 on the freeway, between those two points, I pass the Main Street onramp just ahead of the traffic that is coming on from the light that just changed on Main Street. This is true throughout the city. I can tell you what color the lights will be at any freeway offramp in the city, based on when I get on the freeway, and the last green light I went through. The only time these vary is between 10pm and 6am, and on Sunday after 6pm. At these times, the lights change due to traffic that has tripped the signal via in-road weights/scales. The point I'm getting to is that these things haven't changed since the cameras went in, and I think if they had, there would have been a difference. Also, the way Ventura worked things out, the company who builds and installs the cameras (some company in Australia) did them for free, but they get a high percentage (75-80) of the revenue that is generated for the first 5 years, and then they get a smaller percentage in the years following. They might even get 100% for the first 2 years, I really don't remember, but I do remember reading recently about how the revenue being generated was well below the anticipated amount. I do find that as I get older, I drive alot more responsibly. It get's boring sometimes, but I'm okay with it. I think that makes it much easier for me to stop for lights. I seem to remember it being alot tougher for me 10 years ago. Take care, -Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!