Short yellow light at I-495 West & Utopia Parkway

Taken Thursday, December 23, 2010 at approx 11 AM:
I measured the average time of this yellow light at 2.92 seconds. This MIGHT be adequate for the Federal Highway Administration's guideline for a 30-MPH LIMIT ROAD. HOWEVER, it is not adequate, as this is a 40-MPH limit service road of Interstate 495, combined with a downhill slope leading towards the intersection.

Since the yellow light needs to be a least a second longer, the most probable reason for the short light is to get more red-light runners with the camera right behind my position. Howbeit, as the short length of the light might be illegal under Federal guidelines, by extension, red light runners caught by this intersection's camera should not be deemed guilty. Additionally, if the FHA found out about the inadequate length of this light, Federal funding for this road might be denied.

(It's a double-edged sword for NYC's Department of Finance, as they risk losing Federal subsidies for this road if they continue to keep the yellow short, or lengthen the yellow light to an appropriate length and gain less revenue from fewer red light runners.)

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