[joshuamerrill]

There's an inherent conflict of interest when cities, counties, and states rely on traffic tickets as a source of revenue. The all-too-tempting incentive is to maximize that revenue, either by abusing civil rights or, in this case, by endangering public safety.

[dopamean]

I haven't done a study or anything but after living in Florida for 5 years (coming from New York) I have to say that the motivation seems to come from a serious lack of other revenue sources for the state. There is no state income tax and so fee revenue is huge for the state and local municipalities. A few years ago, in central Florida, voters voted to decrease property taxes. When the measure went through revenues plunged. In response all fees at the DMV were literally doubled and a lot of public employees lost their jobs. The way Florida handles paying for itself makes no sense to me.

[doki_pen]

It won't necessarily endanger the public if they add more delay between one light turning red and the other turning green.

[flogic]

If people stop harder, they're more likely to get in an accident doing so. If you don't have ABS, stopping harder increases the odds that you'll skid. Also you're more likely to get rear ended if the person behind you isn't paying attention.

[mistercow]

If you do that, you'll still cause more people to slam on their brakes to avoid running the red. Slamming on the brakes increases the risk of losing control of the vehicle, and of being rear-ended.

[benmccann]

It can if you're used to the lights being yellow for longer, it suddenly turns red, and you slam on your brakes and get rear-ended.

[maratd]

> It won't necessarily endanger the public if they add more delay between one light turning red and the other turning green.

This is usually referred to as a delayed green light. They are absolutely terrible for public safety.

There are drivers who look at the opposite light to get a cue as to when they should go.

It also pisses regular drivers off, because it looks like absolutely nothing is happening for everyone and they have to sit there and wait for no good reason. A yellow light, even a long one, at least shows some sort of activity and progress.

[rhizome]

You're not responding coherently, but it's indeed a fact that delayed green lights create safer intersections.

Here's a news story from 35 years ago on the topic: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1913&dat=19780310&...