Readers revisit what to do when the light turns green

Q I’ve been reading you and your reader comments about waiting three seconds before entering an intersection when the light turns green. While you and your readers all have good intentions, sadly, all of you are wrong. Why, you ask? Well, the logic of waiting three seconds sounds good at first blush but does not make sense.

The correct answer is to take a brief moment and look both ways before taking off. I’m not talking about glancing both directions but actually looking down the road both ways and you can see if a car is going to shoot the light. I always look both ways before entering an intersection even if I’m in the middle of a pack of cars going through on the green light.

— Larry Schwarcz, Campbell

A This idea of waiting several seconds almost blew up my email.

Many busy intersections have a short pause where all signals may be red. It can vary from a second to two seconds. Some drivers count 1 potato, 2 potatoes,

Q I have been following your discussion on using a threesecond rule before leaving a stoplight, as I had a close call with a red-light runner about a month ago. I have traditionally been a prompt accelerator at green lights.

Let me share what happened.

I was at a red light about to cross Mission Boulevard in Hayward, and a large truck pulled up in the left-turn lane to my left, completely obstructing my view. I thought that this would be a perfect time to apply the rule. The light turned green … 1… 2 … and a bicyclist casually peddled past, followed quickly by a speeding SUV. If I had left my stop as I normally do, I could have wiped out the bicyclist, and we both could have been smashed by the SUV.

This is a good rule to follow in certain circumstances. — Jim Sepeda, Hayward 3 potatoes before going on a green light.

A So many would agree with you.

Q I want to give a shoutout to Caltrans. We drove from Livermore to Tahoe and back. A couple of interchanges and lane changes have always been challenging at Interstates 205/5, Highway 120 and Interstate 5/Highway 50. The overhead signs can be confusing. We discovered that the interstate logos had been painted on the road, showing the lanes we needed to be in. How brilliant.

— Jocelyn Combs, Livermore

A Yes, these colorful pavement logos are a big hit and more are coming.

Q Are there plans to repave Highway 12 between Suisun City and Rio Vista? My husband and I have driven it multiple times in the past three months and the westbound section is so full of potholes they are impossible to miss.

— Rachelle Clair, Fairfield

A Yes, work will start any day now.