New traffic signal a trial for students

Drivers may have been relieved with the new traffic signal that
was added to the crosswalk at Charles E. Young Drive and De Neve
Plaza at the end of March, but pedestrians are singing a different
tune.

The simultaneous presence of a traffic signal, a stop sign and
stenciled stop precautions on the street caused confusion among
students using the crosswalk this month.

Many students say they weren’t sure whether to obey the
stop sign or the traffic signal and therefore were uncertain when
they should cross. This caused many to cross when the traffic
signal displayed a green light for cars.

“I notice there are a lot of people who still cross even
when they aren’t supposed to and cars would have to stop for
them,” said Arine Hayrapetian, a first-year psychology
student.

Hayrapetian said that the removal of the stop sign this past
week clears up a lot of confusion.

Nikita Shah, a first-year political science student also had a
similar experience.

“The signs were there last week and it was a bit
confusing,” she said.

The stenciling, however, remains on the street. 

Steve Rand, traffic manager of UCLA Transportation Services,
said there was a slight delay in its removal due to equipment
malfunction, but agrees that the stenciling’s presence is a
problem.

“The signs need to be removed because it comes in conflict
with the traffic signal,” Rand said. “I hope this will
clear up a lot of confusion.”

The stenciling, which reads “stop” and “stop
ahead,” is scheduled to be fully removed sometime in the next
day or so.

Charles E. Young Drive, which prior to the traffic signal only
contained a stop sign at the crosswalk of De Neve Plaza, was prone
to congestion. UCLA Transportation Services added the signal at the
end of the winter quarter to decrease vehicle congestion and to
increase pedestrian safety.

Some students still aren’t too happy with the new traffic
signal.

“I just wish it was still a stop sign,” said Stephen
Ellis, a fourth-year English student.

Ellis supports the signal’s purpose of decreasing the
frustration drivers faced before when they had to wait for
pedestrians to cross. But when he is running late for class,
he said, having a stop sign is more convenient.

Rand said the problem of time could be eliminated if students
understood the mechanism involving the signal. 

The signal normally runs on a 90-second cycle. If pedestrians
press the walk button, the signal is programmed to automatically
change within five seconds for them to cross. Rand said this occurs
no matter what phase the traffic signal is in. 

“It’s a good system for students who are in a rush
to get to class,” Rand said.

However, Rand said if students don’t press the button,
they get stuck with the regular traffic timer, and this is when
students face the time issue.  

Some students who say they don’t particularly like the new
signal still support the safety surrounding it.

“I liked the old one before because I could cross whenever
I wanted,” Shah said, “but this way is
safer.”

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