Traffic light timers are being switched off in Belarusian cities — but not in all of them. Here's why
The GAI is fighting the "last second effect," but there are also downsides.
In some Belarusian cities, for example, Mogilev, countdown timers have started to disappear from pedestrian and vehicular traffic lights.
The decision was made by the State Automobile Inspectorate (GAI), and it sparked debate among drivers and pedestrians.
GAI representatives explained this step as a concern for safety and a desire to overcome the "last second effect." Inspectors noted that many road users began to orient themselves by the numbers, not the colors.
Seeing that there is literally one second left until the signal changes, drivers often do not brake, but on the contrary, speed up their cars to rush through the intersection.
Pedestrians behave similarly, risking running onto the zebra crossing a couple of seconds before the red light. According to the department, switching off the displays will help reduce accidents and excessive haste on the roads.
However, residents themselves reacted skeptically to the innovation. On social networks, people note that the timer was a convenient tool for planning traffic.
Without a digital display, it will be harder for drivers to calculate their speed, so many will start speeding up "just in case" to catch the green light. Moreover, according to commentators, risk-takers will not disappear and will still try to rush through the intersection, but now simply on a flashing signal.
At the same time, the capital's State Automobile Inspectorate has already announced that no traffic light countdown timers are planned to be switched off in Minsk.
Now reading
We told you: "Don't think this is small change"! Data revealed on how much income tax Belarusians in Lithuania transferred to various public structures
Comments
аднолькавы ва ўсіх гарадах і на ўсіх скрыжаваннях.
А калі адзін будзе так міргаць, другі гэтак, дык на іх і ўвогуле глядзець перастануць.
Проблема как ее обозначили, она не по причине таймера, а по причине того что люди думают, что им хватит времени до того как таймер закончит считать, а он заканчивается и загорается красный, ровно эту же проблему получаем если таймера нет совсем, просто человек будет предполагать, что времени у него еще достаточно