Hickory traffic lights should be modernized

Your Voice

By: Letters to the Editor | Hickory Daily Record
Published: September 30, 2009

The current traffic lights are essentially the same lights used 70 years ago when there were only 10 percent of the cars as now. Eighty-five horsepower then was considered powerful, and few drivers drove 60 mph. Plus, many of the roads were unpaved.

The lights we have now were OK then. But this is now.

The current lights are inadequate, and the yellow caution lights are dangerous. Trying to beat the light before it changes has caused more deaths and property damage than drunk drivers.

One solution would be a single light. It would be nine inches high and 14 inches wide, would be made of space-age material and have high-tech lenses similar to what we see on new automobiles.

They would display only red or green but in different shades than are now used, to lift them out of the competing sea of green and red lights from businesses.

The dangerous caution light would be replaced by a red light showing the word STOP, flashing for 10 seconds.

The light would then go to full red.

I believe this would have a psychological effect on drivers to stop instead of trying to beat the yellow light. This alone should decrease to number of deadly intersection crashes.

This one 9x14 light could be computer-controlled to display stop, go, and turns. Since every driver doesn't have 20/20 vision, the lights would be safer by being visible from a greater distance.

The cost of such a system could be phased in over whatever time is necessary.

This is 2009, not 1939.

George Plyler
Hickory

New leadership needed on Hickory council

I am concerned about the city government. I want to hear the different opinions of the candidates for the upcoming election.

I believe that a new regime in the Hickory area can awake the horrors that we face. Look at what Charlotte is doing — clean up or be fined.

Wake up city council, the immediate hickory area is going to pot. The current city council does not care. Get some new representation and see if they can make a difference.

Go to the polls and make a difference in the future of Hickory. Do not let hickory stagnate.

Pam Connelly
Hickory

Public needs to ask more 'why' questions

James Shell's commentary on giving young people a chance to thrive in Hickory was insightful. This is an excellent example of how we need to dig deeper and ask more "why" questions.

Before we try to solve any of our problems, such as a high drop-out rate, we need to better understand the root causes.

Otherwise, we will spend money on the wrong things and not really solve our problems.

Wanda J. Arnold
Hickory