New York pause

In traffic control, the brief interval when a traffic light shows a red (for "stop") in all directions.

Until the 1970s, most traffic lights would switch red-to-green at the same instant that the other direction went yellow-to-red. Because accidents would sometimes occur at that transition, New York City innovated a phase, usually about three to five seconds, of all-red lights, so the intersection would be completely clear before actuating the green ("go") signal. The "New York pause" has become widespread across the U.S.

The New York pause came to Michigan traffic lights by 1990.

Because drivers are so impatient, we ended up with the New York pause.

New York pause by Consider Her Ways May 27, 2021