Description
The traffic light at the intersection of Pratt St. and Mill St. is very old and should be replaced with the new L.E.D. type of lights. I didn't think ANYONE was still using the old "single bulb" type of light. As far as I know, all the other traffic lights in Meriden, Ct. have been updated with the new LED type of traffic lights.
Not only are the green and yellow lights dim and hard to see (at this intersection), but the green if such a pale green that, it's hard to tell if it is, indeed, a "green" traffic light. The yellow or, "caution light" is just as bad. The only light that will get your attention is the red light, at the top of the light. But, that makes the light even more dangerous because, when the light is "green" (if you can call it "green"), it is hard to tell if the light is, indeed, a green traffic light or, just another dim light on Pratt St.
Yesterday, as I approached the light in question, I didn't notice that there was a traffic light at that intersection - because the "green" light is so pale. And when the light turned "yellow" (if you can call if yellow), it too, was hard to tell if it was a caution light. And when the light turned red, luckily, I saw it at the last second and had to hit my brakes HARD in order to avoid entering the intersection on a red light. Other drivers, who were at the intersection, fortunately, saw me coming and waited for me to see that the light was red, or, were going to allow me "the right of way", to avoid an accident. Fortunately, I saw the red light and stopped in time.
THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND THE TRAFFIC LIGHT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE NEW L.E.D. LIGHTS IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED!
If there ever were a major accident at that intersection (with a pedestrian getting injured or KILLED) I'm sure the lawyers would have a "field day" arguing that the City was negligent by NOT providing the latest, safe, traffic lighting; especially, since Pratt St. is dimly lit, and the traffic light is ALSO dimly lit.
I know that, if I were the city's traffic manager, that traffic light would be replaced virtually "overnight"; before someone gets injured or killed.
THAT INTERSECTION IS DANGEROUS!!
CAN I MAKE MYSELF ANY CLEARER?
FIX IT BEFORE "THE POWERS THAT BE" GET THEMSELVES IN TROUBLE!!
2 Comments
Albert Cadda (Registered User)
I'm sorry to say, that, the traffic light on Pratt and Mill Street still has NOT been replaced with a new, modern, LED type of traffic light (the same LED types used in the rest of Meriden.
I drove past that traffic light today and had to remind myself to look for a pale- green traffic light. To do otherwise would mean, possibly, getting into an traffic accident. The "green" light is almost "white". The same applies to the Caution "yellow" light.
Albert Cadda (Registered User)
I see that the traffic light on Pratt Street has been taken down and replaced with the flashing red stop sign on the side of the road where the defective traffic light used to be located. Even that is better than what was there before. The flashing red stop sign is very noticeable but, I noticed that most people drive right through the flashing stop sign. I guess they don't think that that stop sign is for Pratt Street. That goes to show you just how "unconscious" many drivers are.
I still think a new L.E.D. traffic light would be better. But for now, I guess this will have to do.