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‘Confusing’: What readers think of hybrid traffic lights
Many say the pedestrian-activated signals are confusing — and research shows most drivers don’t fully understand how they work.
Readers are skeptical about the state’s hybrid traffic lights.
There are currently about 40 pedestrian hybrid beacons around Massachusetts with more on the way — and according to researchers, many may be disobeying traffic laws without realizing it.
These hybrid lights are designed to make crossing safer for pedestrians but their unique sequence has left many motorists confused, according to a UMass Amherst study.
Here’s how the light sequence works:
- The light stays off until a pedestrian pushes the button.
- A flashing yellow warns drivers they should slow down.
- Then comes a solid yellow, followed by a solid red, meaning vehicles must stop.
- When the red begins flashing, driver can proceed — but only if a crosswalk is clear.
- The hybrid light sequence ends when the light is turned off.
UMass Amherst researchers found a concerning volume of drivers don’t understand the light sequence. Across 10 sites, researchers found nearly a quarter of motorists drove through the solid red lights, and 65% drove through the flashing red lights — even when pedestrians were present, which is the equivalent of running a stop sign.
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UMass Transportation Center director Michael Knodler told CBS News, “They have a lot of potential to improve pedestrian safety, but only if drivers and pedestrians are using them as intended.”
Boston.com readers seem to agree. Of the more than 300 responses to an informal poll, only 13% said the lights work well, 28% answered “sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it’s confusing.” The majority, 59%, said they did not understand them. Readers tended to agree that the lights should have rolled out with better public education. “Too complex. Too many signals,” Craig wrote. But an anonymous reader argued the opposite: It’s “common sense.”
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Below, see a sampling of reader responses on hybrid traffic lights.
What do you think of hybrid traffic lights (pedestrian hybrid beacons)?
They work well.
12%
Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes its confusing.
29%
I don't understand them.
59%
What do you think of hybrid traffic lights (pedestrian hybrid beacons)?
I don’t understand them.
“Driving in Boston is already challenging with its maze of bike and bus lanes, narrow streets, and low bridges. While hybrid lights undoubtedly enhance safety and add value to local communities, the state needs to do a better job educating drivers on how to properly respond to them.”- Chris C. from North Andover
“It’s hard enough trying to cross the road at a traditional stop light. Making things more confusing will just make things more dangerous for us pedestrians.”- Sarah from Malden
“What was wrong with the red hand telling pedestrians to stop. And the white hand to walk. This is not better it’s just more lights! Stop fixing what works.”- Linda M. from Malden
“Is it really that difficult for pedestrians to wait until the light indicates it safe to cross, or where there is no pedestrian lights, when it is visually safe to cross? Perhaps we need a police officer at every cross walk, so the police can walk each person across the street.” – Robert B. from Peabody/Danvers
“Hey AI, draw me a traffic light. Oh, that’s not quite right.”- Earl B. from Dartmouth
“Way too confusing, way too many choices. I think the best and safest signals are the ones that have red for all drivers while the walk signals (white) for all walkers are on. Then the red and green lights work as usual. Bikers should be following rules for traffic. Clear, straightforward. These new lights only add to the problem. Remember, while people are driving they can’t be digesting a PhD thesis, as interesting as it might be. Driving requites split second reflexes and responses. Keep it simple! Please!”- Olivia from Brookline
“These lights are very dangerous, drivers don’t know how to react to them when it matters most. It should be removed and in its place something simple and everybody understands.”- Anonymous from Quincy
“My issue is that in driver training classes, new drivers are trained that, in the event of a power failure and all the lights are off, the blank stoplights should be seen as a stop sign for all traffic from all directions. While many fail to abide by this rule, turning the lights off when no pedestrians are present forces a diligent and well trained driver to assume the blank light is offline and, thus, the driver should assume the blank light to be a stop sign with all cars stopping at the blank light and then proceeding when deemed safe.”- Peter W. from Connecticut
Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes its confusing.
“Publishing a video is probably not a real effective way to be sure all drivers are educated on these lights. Those of us that no longer live in Mass. but visit frequently would have no knowledge of these.”- Rick B. from The Villages, Fla.
“A good concept, otherwise, but not very effective with the driving knowledge of many motorists.”- Dennis from Fall River
“I am a pedestrian. I don’t own a car. I cross at the cross-walk in the photo at the top of this story every single day. I am risking my life crossing at that cross walk, especially when it’s blinking red. If there isn’t a large group waiting to cross, most cars blow straight through the blinking red. As a pedestrian, we still have around 12 seconds to cross according to the orange countdown light, but since it’s blinking red, drivers just go. This spot in quincy is so dangerous.”– J. from Quincy
“It makes sense when you explain it, but otherwise it can be confusing. I cannot tell you how many times people stop at the hybrid light in Quincy Center (when it’s “off”) and almost cause massive accidents.”- Jenny from Quincy
“There’s one near my home. The delay of the red signals & start of walk signal is too long. Pedestrians start walking when cars stop. So then the walk sign lights & cars still have red light sequence. Drivers know it’s save to go but feel need to wait while still red…or they don’t wait.” – Coop from Natick
“This concept of ‘stop if pedestrian is present’ is the problem. We have been trained to do this and it is simply wrong. There is a crosswalk light so it needs to be used. Too many rear endings with drivers stopped on a road with no indicators that they need to stop. In Europe pedestrians go when it is safe not when they get to the crosswalk. We need to change this and have people cross where and when it is safe. Oh! And red blinking lights like a train is also confusing. A simple red light is needed. Reasons: safety and physics!”- Bill from Framingham
They work well.
“They aren’t confusing. Yellow slow down and prepare to stop. Red, stop. Easy” – Debbie from Bedford
“There is one in Medway I drive past daily. I’ve always treated it like a regular traffic light: yellow means proceed with caution, red means stop. The light near me is easy to see and clearly part of a crosswalk. I did not know a flashing red means a driver can proceed if the crosswalk is empty.” – Dave from Medway
“If people don’t understand these lights they really shouldn’t be operating a motor vehicle.”- Brian F. from Wellfleet
“Keeps traffic flowing, but also it will take time for people to understand what they are meant to do.”- Diane from Salem
“We’ve had them now where I live for awhile. It took about 6 months though before everyone understood what they meant. It took police pulling people over and explaining them. BEFORE instituting them they need to have a lot of community meetings at different times of day and nights to get the word out to everyone in my opinion. Also have meetings at housing authority bldgs. for those who live there.” – Kay from Quincy
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