La la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la

And I'm sure what your next question will be, so let me preempt you: an outraged - "So, Rachel, you don't care about public safety?"

Thanks for sharing, but I had not thought to ask that question. Are you one of the two respondents on the poll that prefers the shorter Yellow Light?

I have been trying to understand why anyone would prefer a shorter Yellow Light. Share a little more, why is that a good thing?

#9, only eight questions in your post? I'm not sure if you want me to respond or not.

Your choice.

Of course there are many questions. CBT brought up a good one. Apparently except for Red Light cameras every single thing we do in Knox County has to be run by the "smart people" in Nashville. In other words, if either Mayor disagrees go to Nashville and get permission.

Remind you of small children? It should.

Mommy, can I go outside and play? Did you ask your father dear? Oh daddy said its fine if its okay with you mommy. Pleaaaase...

You've still yet to sufficiently demonstrate that the length of the yellow lights decreased after they installed the redlight cameras, and that they did it for revenue purposes. You state it as fact, so I gotta ask: got any evidence that they decreased the yellow light times?

Did you ever wonder why we needed Red Light cameras in the first place? Because too many people were running Red Lights. Why were so many people running Red Lights? Could it be that the Yellow Lights were not long enough?

Margie Nichols said the timing of the Lights has not been changed. If true, assume that it is, could that have been the entire problem to begin with? The Virginia study on Red Light timing shows a 96% reduction in tickets when the Yellow Light is increased from 4 seconds to 5.5 seconds. Which really means a 96% reduction in people running Red Lights.

If the City really was interested in safety, why didn't they increase the Yellow Lights to 5.5 seconds before installing the cameras? Were the cameras even necessary?

One could argue that the City created the problem to be able to provide a solution. A solution which would raise significant revenue for the City.

That's some fairly circular logic, isn't it?

Furthermore, aren't you extrapolating "The lights aren't long enough, and I don't think they've ever been long enough," into a sort of, well, paranoia? Your vigilance is admirable, but you seem to speak with the certainty of faith rather than reason.

I asked in the big thread on Red Light cameras if you were a Haslam supporter.

I am sure you must have been something on the debate team. But you're too clever by half. Circular logic followed by the premise that Yellow Lights can never be long enough. Not very good tactics. So far you have been able only to generate a few sentences with mostly taunts. Got any facts?

To answer your question, actually Yellow Lights can be too long. There are many studies on the optimal timing of Yellow Lights and how long to hold cross traffic.

Currently there is NO hold time for cross traffic where there are Red Light cameras in Knoxville. The Yellow Light duration at two Red Light cameras measured by WATE news was 4 seconds and 4.09 seconds. Much too short a time for the distance traveled at or near the speed limit.

Police Chief Owen is quoted in the News Sentinel as saying it is up to the traffic engineering department to set the Yellow Light duration. The decision whether to hold cross traffic for a second or two is also up to the traffic engineering department.

For those people that have gotten tickets or who have been endangered in this Rube Goldberg revenue scheme you can contact the traffic engineering department at 865-215-6100.

Ask them why they refuse to make intersections safe in Knoxville. They will tell you that they already are safe and quote statistics to back up their case. Remember what Mark Twain said about statistics.

The problem is that the politicians want the traffic to move. This is a problem of priorities. There can be both safety and a traffic system that can move the traffic.

It just take someone who cares enough to make it happen. Last year it was estimated it would cost $60,000 to reprogram the traffic lights. The City has taken in over $217,000. Is money the problem? Or is it greed?

At the very least the City could program a 1 second hold time on cross traffic. Why won't they at least do that if they care so much about the safety of the public? Is it because people would want them to also reprogram the Yellow Lights to 5 seconds?

Mayor Bill Haslam and Police Chief Owen are not the people to make intersections safe. They both blame the traffic engineering department. If there is a sign that says "The buck stops here" it is not on the Mayor's desk. It is down in the traffic engineering department.

I thought you said in the previous discussion that the lights were set at 3 seconds?

He did. But facts are inconvenient things.

Conveniently, it offers no evidence to back its charges.

Bullshit. Study after study back up the point. In detail you can go here, which was a link in the post above. If you are too lazy to read the hyperlinks don't cry that the information was not provided. A rather specious argument considering your credentials.

Recent poll results show 98% of respondents on KnoxViews prefer the 5 second Yellow Light.

Your thoughts Mr. Mean? Are all of the 98% misinformed? Do you have any facts to say people are better off with short Yellow Lights? If so, enlighten us.

What does Police Chief Owen mean in this statement to the KNS? Can you translate that for us?

“Owen said he was not necessarily opposed to a longer yellow-light time if it can have a positive effect on reducing accidents, although he acknowledged the matter was more for traffic engineering than law enforcement. Let traffic engineering follow it up, then, perhaps giving the benefit of any doubt to motorists and increase the yellow-light time where warranted.”

>>so it is in the City. It's just better hidden

Hey, can't a guy crack a joke? There's patronage on the west side of the sixth floor, too. Not sure, in light of the recent Renee Kesler imbroglio I'd call it "better hidden."

Less there be some misunderstanding, I really don't have too much problem with some 'political' hires, so long as they have some qualifications.

I agree with this statement. It's natural to want "your people" around you at the top levels of govt. As long as they are well qualified I've got no issue with that.

It's the pure patronage hires (at all levels) that I have a problem with.

The rest of your post argues that the traffic engineering department is incorrect in its lack of a delay for cross-traffic. Wouldn't it make more sense to simply argue that we need one? Instead, you're spending most of your time defending your idea of a profit conspiracy by figures in local government, and it really doesn't seem productive.

Who can hire and fire the head of traffic engineering?

Every study linked here has been read by the people in traffic engineering. Has it occurred to anyone that maybe these people in traffic engineering would like to reprogram the traffic lights and make them safer?

It is a difficult job to make the public and the politicians happy at the same time. When this was debated in City Council the Yellow Light timing was discussed. It was asked why not lengthen the Yellow Lights first and see if the cameras are really needed. This is not about a lack of knowledge, it is about a lack of will.

For Police Chief Owen and Mayor Haslam to pass the buck and say it is not their decision is pitiful leadership. IF it isn't about the money, then why not change the traffic lights?