Running Red Lights

Mark Frankel misses one very important point in his column discussing Southern Californians’ habit of ignoring red lights (“Better Red Than Dead on L.A. Streets,” Op-Ed Page, July 28). Most drivers don’t think of themselves as running red lights but rather running yellow lights. To them there’s a big difference. A red light still holds the stigma of breaking the law. But a yellow light--nah, that’s just beating the odds.

As one who views every yellow light as green, I would like to explain why. Lights on main thoroughfares are not synchronized. If you manage to get through one yellow light it could mean a dozen greens ahead of you. On the other hand, if you stop at a yellow, you will probably hit a red light for the next 10 streets.

Coming from the mean streets of Manhattan 12 years ago, I must say that little of the courtesy Southern California drivers were known for remains recognizable. Whatever is good for the driver goes--even if that means possibly causing a major accident or killing a pedestrian. Again, as one who considers yellow lights nothing more than pale greens, I wish it were different. But unfortunately it won’t be until the lights on major thoroughfares are synchronized and freeways are actually free.

MARLENA BRICKER

Cypress