To: Rahm Emanuel, Mayor, The Illinois State House, The Illinois State Senate, and Governor J.B. Pritzker
Yellow-light times
In Illinois, the minimum yellow-light time will be 3 seconds at intersections where traffic is moving at 25 miles per hour, and the time will increase by a half-second for every 5 mph increase in traffic speed.
Why is this important?
According to the National Motorists Association, "Cities and for-profit camera companies maximize revenue by setting yellow-light times that are too short...it jeopardizes motorist, cyclist, and pedestrian safety...It is not surprising that Chicago is able to generate annual red-light camera ticket revenue in excess of $70 million by setting its yellow lights at deficient 3.0 second intervals." Chicago has set all of its yellow lights to 3 seconds, even at intersections where traffic is moving at over 40 mph. The NMA cited one study that found just one additional second of yellow time can reduce the number of collisions in an intersection by 40 percent. For example, the New Jersey legistature has implemented the safer yellow-light formula delineated in the "PETITION STATEMENT."