Fix traffic by timing lights

Recently, the Daily Herald had an article about Elgin wanting to put more traffic light cameras on Randall Road. Thank God Kane County turned them down.

If Elgin, and other communities along Randall Road, want to decrease the number of accidents I have a suggestion for them. Time the lights so that traffic flows better and drivers don't get so frustrated.

I had to travel to my dentist recently. He's near Randall and Route 20. For the heck of it, I decided to do an informal survey.

Between my house and my dentist's office my trip on Randall Road took me through 22 intersections. Of those 22 intersections, 17 have traffic lights. For some of these intersections, the timing is exacerbated by left turn on arrow only lights. Funny how some of those double left turn lanes went into areas where there was only one business.

Traveling the posted speed limit and not doing jack rabbit starts, I was able to make two lights in a row. For fifteen lights, I got to pull away from a red light only to see the next light turning red.

In addition to the tremendous amount of gasoline being absolutely wasted, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that drivers are going to get frustrated and then they are going to blow lights.

I've lived in areas where the lights were timed and had signs such as "Lights are timed for 38 miles per hour." This was in a 40 mph zone. It was amazing how well traffic flowed and how it decreased the number of accidents.

Wally O'Brien

Dundee