Why does it take so long sometimes for the signal to turn green?
There could be many reasons for this. Many intersections are congested and have a lot of traffic approaching from different directions. Sometimes you just have to wait your turn. If a pedestrian pushes the pedestrian button, the "Walk" and flashing clearance will stay on for a certain amount of time, requiring conflicting traffic movements to have a red light. The longer the pedestrian crossing distance, the longer the flashing clearance has to stay on.

Occasionally, a fire or police vehicle, train or ambulance may preempt the signal with their strobe lights, causing the conflicting traffic movements to remain red. Sometimes it is an issue of priority, as a roadway with heavier traffic will typically have more green time than the side street with less traffic to reduce overall delay to the most number of drivers. Some of our busier roadways have the signals synchronized during peak traffic hours, and that may cause the side street approaches to wait longer than normal.

Show All Answers

1. How do I drive through a signal if it is out due to loss of electricity?
2. How do I report an obvious malfunction with an existing traffic signal?
3. How do pedestrian signals work?
4. How much will this citation cost?
5. May I attend traffic school to take care of this citation?
6. May I pay my traffic citation by mail?
7. May I contest this citation?
8. What if the court does not send me a letter after I get a traffic citation?
9. What is red light running?
10. Is red light running a serious problem?
11. What is the difference between a green arrow and a round green signal indication?
12. Why does it take so long sometimes for the signal to turn green?