Letter: Traffic signals make more sense abroad

Your comprehensive coverage of pedestrian laws and suggestions was good (“Crossing at your own risk,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 4). Left out was a practical analysis of how to improve the situation.

I have traveled to more than 150 countries in recent years. Most countries, including poor developing countries, are in three ways superior to ours: Condition of roads (fewer potholes and smoother pavement); more attractive surroundings (trees, flowers, plantings in center strips and along the sides of the roads); and, most important, common- sense traffic lights.

In most countries there is a simple and uniform system. There is a large sign, easy to read for nearly a block away, with a countdown of seconds until the red light comes on.

This gives oncoming cars adequate time to know if they can safely make it through the light, as opposed to here, where a brief yellow light allows only for a short reaction time. I rarely saw drivers going through red lights there, while it is a common occurrence here.

Bob Karman

Hawaii Kai

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