Lee Fischer: 'Red' means stop
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
We've all done it, and at times it just happens unintentionally, but the extent of the red light runners in town is getting out of control.
After weeks and months of watching the local driving population and how they treat stop lights, I have to speak out. With my "commute" to work, approximately 1.5 miles, the short route takes me through two lights. One at Third and Lincoln and the other at Hilltop Connector.
This morning's ride netted six cars running the red lights. This number is for those cars entering the intersection after the light is already red. It is not uncommon to see a half-dozen or more cars a day running the numerous lights we have - a whopping 15 lights if I count correctly.
These "runners" aren't limited to teenagers, but cement trucks, dump trucks, fuel tankers, semi's, city transit buses and taxicabs along with all the others in town who can't wait the extra minute to get to where they are going. The other day, I was half a block from the light when it turned yellow. My daughter who will be driving herself in the next few months, said, "floor it, everyone else does!" Obviously they notice.
It is just a matter of time before one of our kids runs out when the light turns green and gets creamed by one of the runners. Think about it, and chill out before it is too late.
Lee Fischer
Steamboat Springs
Comments
PokesFan 6 years, 3 months ago
Well stated Lee. I live in the same area and am fearful that someone is going to be killed at the Hilltop Parkway/Lincoln intersection. It will likely be by someone driving a car talking on a cell phone or by an operator of one of the trucks you refer to. My daugher is driving and she has been reminded a number of times that green doesn't mean go at most lights until the intersection will be clear. In addition to Lee's very valid and true comments, driving while talking on your cell phone is akin to DRIVING DRUNK. Obviously, those conducting conversations on their cell while driving believe they have the right of way at all times. As the bumper sticker says: "Shut up and Drive!" Others life might depend on it.
cantstandit 6 years, 3 months ago
It is not against the law to talk on you phone in Colorado. GET OVER IT or MOVE!
jeep 6 years, 3 months ago
cantstandit that was a really stupid comment
Magpie 6 years, 3 months ago
That light at Hilltop and Lincoln is a real problem. Not only do the cars on Lincoln "floor it" but the green light for the Hilltop cars is only 10 seconds long, which does not allow many cars through, so I have seen cars (and have been tempted myself) from Hilltop floor it down the hill to try to make the light.
Another intersection where the lights need work is Pine Grove at Mt. Warner (the interesection that leads to the Meadows parking lot). If you park in Meadows and ski only half day (like many of us who catch the powder and then have to get back to work) you can sit through many cycles of that light where it never turns green for one car trying to leave the Meadows lot area. Yesterday, after waiting two cycles where it never turned green, I had to run the red just to get out of there.
fish 6 years, 3 months ago
One of the biggest problems that I have noticed with drivers in Steamboat is the number of people who do not bother to even slow down let alone stop when they are turning right on a red light. On pine grove road turning toward city market hardly anyone stops. It would be really nice to see an increase in traffic cititaions being issued in the city limits.
kingsride 6 years, 3 months ago
Overall there is a blatant disregard for traffic laws here and very very little enforcement in town. The comments above (with the exception of cants) are all accurate. It is common to see vehicles travelling 60 mph plus between Walton Creek Road and Pine Grove. It will take an agressive enforcement program to change this behavior. I for one would love to see that happen.
Matthew Stoddard 6 years, 3 months ago
Or there's always the 10th St. Head West Race until the lanes merge.
Zac Brennan 6 years, 3 months ago
I suggest calling the police with our favorite traffic complaint sites. Maybe they could place an officer at those locations. Mine is 5th and Howelson Parkway at the three way stop intersection with the train tracks, the rodeo entrance and all the parents racing to and from Howelson Hill and the ice rink. Not to mention the bike path.....
Magpie 6 years, 3 months ago
I agree that the 5th and Howelson intersection can be a mess, but I think it is partially becuase of the strange Stop sign configuration. Just put a stop sign on 5th also and make it an all way stop. People get confused about whether they can go or not nd if hey have time to make the turn onto 5th before the car coming down 5th gets to the intersection (or assuming that the car coming down 5th will turn right (to the ski area) so that they can turn L (from the ski are onto 5th) without getting in the way. And yes, many of the drivers at that intersection are parents who may be running bit late to the ski hill or the ice rink or the Igloo (for parks and rec programs).
So, I think that intersection needs to be changed to a 3-way stop (or really a 4way as there often isn't a car coming out of the rodeo grounds there but when there is one, then it is just completely confusing as to who has the right of way).
roadhard 6 years, 2 months ago
no more stop signs, if you put one on 5th, stopped traffic will back up on the rrx and not be able to get out of the way when the train comes...
id04sp 6 years, 2 months ago
Uh, roadhard, you've got to have enough sense not to park on the tracks. You can always stop and wait for the other traffic to move ahead.
Maybe if we killed a few of the drivers dumb enough to do that, it would take care of some of the other problems too.
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