The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995            TAG: 9512140010
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A18  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   26 lines

WE NEED LONGER YELLOW LIGHTS

The number of cars running red traffic signal lights is a serious hazard. Much blame can be directed to the traffic engineers that set the short yellow lights. The article ``We'll be watching you'' (Nov. 29) is the police solution to the traffic engineer's errors and an unnecessary expense to the public.

I have timed signal lights on Virginia Beach Boulevard. Three-second yellow lights are fine in 25 mph zones, but are deadly above that speed limit. The current yellow light settings do not provide a safety net for drivers.

I recommend that Virginia Beach set the example for the nation by increasing yellow light times so that drivers and their vehicles can stop in a safe manner.

DON MURRI

Virginia Beach, Nov. 29, 1995 by CNB