Pedestrian walk countdown...

[PLau]

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The problem arises when they start applying their brakes when they see that the counter is less than 3 secs or so while the light actually changes after 10 secs.

I've had someone go down to 40km/h in an 80 zone with traffic all around them cause of the counter and only started picking up speed when people started honking....

On top of everything else, sometimes when there isn't any cars waiting to go in the other direction, the pedestrian signal turns back to Walk... Then what happens? You get a vehicle thats practically stopped in a live lane with a green light.

I found it being much easier to counter adjust your speed of travel when those countdown "clocks" started poping out to the streets. Let's agree, everyone here would rather know when the light is about to change instead of guessing it.
The idea with those countdowns is to have the traffic light switch to amber upon the countdown reaching zero, than - red. However, lately I keep coming across some intersections where the timers are obviously are out of sync. Like many have already mentioned above - the countdown is at zero, yet the traffic light remains green. It's a problem.

Now, add to that a red light camera and you will have people slowing down nearly to a full stop in anticipation of a RED LIGHT camera taking their picture. Try doing that along Hwy7 where posted speed limit is 80... No wonder why people get rear ended all the time.

Those things need to be re-calibrated badly. They are supposed to HELP, not to CONFUSE.

Yuup... Bathurst and Hwy 7.....

I've actually come across an intersection near Weston and Major Mac where the light would switch to yellow when the counter said 8 seconds (continuing to count down) and was a solid red at 4-5 seconds counting down. That cause MAJOR confusion and people running red lights... *sigh*.... It was fixed after about 3-4 months........ The light turned green for the other direction right as the counter hit 0.

 

[rafiki911]

If the counters are actually malfunctioning, in Toronto you can call 311 and give them the info. Outside of Toronto not sure who to call, maybe the non emergency line for the police.

 

[RockerGuy]

These counters does more good than harm. I don't see a fault in them

 

[H4x0rz]

The counter will only pause after it hits 0 if there is a public transit bus or streetcar at or near the intersection that are equipped with a traffic signal pre-empting device. The thought is to speed up public transit. Pedestrian counters are supposed to be for pedestrians and not vehicular traffic btw

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