Does Hamden Have Too Many Red Lights?

If you’re frustrated with the red light situation in Hamden, 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 Hamden best. We asked you on Facebook how you felt about the red lights in our area. Could Hamden use more red lights? Are there too many? What intersections need a stop light, or can get rid of one?

Here’s what readers said on social media:

- "If you put more sensors to allow for better traffic flow the world would be a better place. I see no reason why I have to stop for a red light when there is no one coming from the cross street. The corner of Shepard and west Shepard is a glaring example of this."

- "I agree with better sensors. In the morning you can sit up to 5 minutes on the corner of Putnam and Whitney. Can't take a right on red."

- "How about fewer leading left arrows on Whitney in Spring Glen? I so often see cars having to wait for no reason."

- "How about stop signs on Blue Hills Avenue . People think its a race track"

- "No one stops for red lights it's ridiculous Whitney and Ives is horrible"

- "Too many! Leave lights alone."

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