Does Towson Have Too Many Red Lights?

If you’re frustrated with the red light situation in Towson, 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 Towson best. We asked you on Facebook how you felt about the red lights in our area. Could Towson 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:

- "Too many. Takes so long to get anywhere. Some intersections need restrictions on right turn on red. It's a privilege not a right. Tired of slamming on the brakes when I have the right of way."

- "Too many bus stops!!!!!"

- "Many of our existing intersections should be changed over to traffic circles. They are efficient, reduce emissions and work even if the power is out."

- "Can they kill that circle and put lights back before someone else gets hurt there?"

- "Too many! Takes 20 minutes to drive 1 1/2 miles!"

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