Length of Traffic Lights in the DR

[NALs]

One of the pet peeves of some people have to do with traffic lights in the Dominican Republic. Basically, the red light appear to lasts for too long. Counters have been added at several traffic light poles that makes waiting for the green light more tolerable to Dominican drivers. Despite that, there still are many people that get tired of waiting for the light to change and go on a red light if the traffic permits it.

Perspective can also play a part here too. For example, someone used to driving in New York will notice that in the Orlando, Florida area red lights take a longer time to change and there most (to not say all) traffic light poles don't have a counter (though many crosswalk lights do have counters that drivers conveniently focus on to gauge when the traffic light will change). It shouldn't be much of a surprise that the traffic light situation in the DR will be more noticeable to a driver from New York than one from Orlando.

Is this an illusion or does the red light lasts too long in the DR?

 

[rogerjac]

I think the problem is that many lights only give a green light to one direction at a time. So if you get a red you have to wait for the traffic from the right to go thru then the left then the opposing and then you, 3 cycles then you. In the real world every its one third the wait

 

[Abuela]

The bigger issue is moto drivers ignoring any light directive

 

[cavok]

I like the counters. At least I know how long I have to wait and how much longer the light will be green. I don't recall ever seeing one anywhere in Miami(?).

 

[USA DOC]

what I like best about red lights is the small town in Wisconsin I moved from.....Didnt have any.........

 

[NanSanPedro]

I have never seen any moto drivers ignore the lights. They might run them, but they don't ignore them.