Complaints over fast traffic light

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It’s one of the fastest lights in Orange County, and frustrated drivers are blowing through it all day long.  That’s creating safety concerns at a busy intersection near Dr. Phillips.   A local driver sent FOX 35 a cell phone video and asked us to look into this.

It is maddening.  Frustrated drivers cannot believe it.   It’s the left hand turn revving up drivers’ blood pressure because the traffic light is freaky fast.  Driver Rob Stang says, “I’m concerned that someone is going to walk out in front of a car and get hit.”

Stang recorded the cell phone video while stopped in the turning left lane. “It’s really frustrating when you are trying to get to work on time and you have family here, and you are worried about them getting hit if they were to be crossing an intersection like that.”

We are talking about the left turn signal at Sand Lake Road and Turkey Lake Road, if you are coming from Dr. Phillips trying to turn left or north onto Turkey Lake.  Stang adds, “I see two to four cars run through it every single cycle that the light changes.”

Wednesday evening, our camera captured several  cars charging through the intersection after the arrow clearly turned red.  Using a smart phone stop watch, the light cycle lasted a little less than ten seconds. 
Compare that to the left turn arrow to turn south on Turkey Lake Road.  That light has a twenty-six second cycle.

A spokeswoman with Orange County tells us the light has a broken sensor.  She said the cycle is too short, and managers at the county traffic management center hope to fix it within 48 hours.  Officials said drivers can call 311 to report concerns about traffic lights.  Stang said they should.  “Take it into your own hands and do something about it.  You know, we all have our own civic duty.”

For now, drivers need to have a fast foot to the brake pedal until this ultra-quick light lasts longer.