Patch Readers Sound Off on Red Lights in Belmont

If you’re frustrated with the red light situation in Belmont, you are in good company.

While stop lights are one of the necessary evils of commuting, they don’t guarantee safety for pedestrians or cooperation from drivers.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red-light running is the number one cause of urban crashes. Furthermore in 2013, approximately 127,000 people were injured in red-light related accidents.

In August 2015, the National Coalition for Safer Roads released an interactive safety map that would allow users to see the number of red-light running deaths in their area as part of the group’s ‘Stop on Red’ initiative.

At Patch, we appreciate that our readers and motorists know the stop lights in Belmont best. We asked you on Facebook how you felt about the red lights in our area. Could Belmont use more red lights? Are there too many? What intersections need a stop light, or can we get rid of one?

Here’s what readers said on social media:

- "We could use a light at Twin Pines Park instead of a 3-way stop."

- "The lights are fine. There are just too many people!"

- "The number of lights are fine. The timing and the lack of infrastructure to support the bursting at the seams population - not so good."

- "I think we have enough red lights. Synchronization would be good."

- "Red lights are fine, timing is horrible especially turning left off the El Camino into the neighborhoods.

- "Well, given how many cars we see blowing through them, why have any?"

- "The dual Harbor intersections are a disaster. Red lights are run on a regular basis and people are totally oblivious. And when the lights aren't being ignored the intersections are being blocked. I live uphill at the Southern Harbor intersection and turning left on to El Camino is either dangerous (I've had to slam on my brakes countless times when someone suddenly goes flying through) or impossible because too many people heading North didn't stop at the line. I've sat through multiple signals before being able to go."

- "Not sure about too many, but don't see the use for some of the existing lights. The one at (west) Harbor and ECR (going up the hill), for instance. The worst is the light at Middle and ECR. While necessary, it can take up to 10 minutes (or longer) to make a left onto ECR (from Middle), or from ECR onto Middle. Anytime of day."

- "Without the uphill Harbor light, I'd never be able get onto ECR!"

Is there a red light in Belmont you can’t stand? Is there an intersection that could desperately use a red light? Let us know on Facebook.