Slow-changing traffic lights

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Story Published: Feb 1, 2010 at 11:35 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 2, 2010 at 12:03 AM MDT

By Danica Lawrence

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IDAHO FALLS - For some traffic lights, turning left, can take an eternity.

"I come down Capital, cause I work on Capital, and when I get to the Broadway light, it takes forever for that light to switch, to go all the way down Capital. So that light is bad," says Chari Hansen.

"Memorial onto Broadway, it's the worst. It takes forever. You just sit at the light," says 16-year old driver, Cole Davis.

Idaho Falls City Power runs one of the two systems that activate the traffic lights. A vehicle detection system is built inside the roads, so when you drive over it, it will sense your car and trigger the light to change, but not always. Even the Idaho Falls Police Department faces the problem daily.

"Sometimes I've had to back up and re-position the car to get it trip," says IFPD Sgt. Dave Frei.

City Power tells Eyewitness News if you pass over too quickly, the underground system will miss you. The State runs the cameras that watch for vehicle traffic. Sometimes snow or fog can cloud the lens.

Studies prove there is less Sunday traffic. Because of that, the lights run free, with no traffic coordination management. That means you will wait longer for green.

Some drivers have a secret method.

"One time we were waiting and I actually honked the horn and that made it work," says Branden Rankin. He didn't think it was a coincidence, just his own magic trick.

One of the traffic lights that got the most complaints was the one at 17th and June. So we tested it to see how long it really takes. Two minutes and 16 seconds, not too bad.

"What is the law, if it doesn't change, how long do you have to wait, five or ten minutes, how long?!" asks Hansen.

"If the road is clear and the light is malfunctioning and you've sat through several cycles and it's not changing, and you need to proceed, you may do so," answers Frei. Don't we love hearing that?

Idaho Falls Police does ask if you encounter traffic lights not working properly to give them a call (208) 529-1200.

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