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"Timing" involves trying to gague when the light's going to go green so that you do not have to slow down. If you're right, you hit the limit line as the light's changing, if you're wrong, you blow a red light, and possibly cause a wreck. People timing traffic lights base their actions on the color of lights for cross traffic; watching to see the green-to-yellow change, and trying to adjust their speed so that they will cross the limit line as the light for cross traffic goes to red and their own light changes to green.

Success depends upon speed, distance from the intersection, duration of the yellow, lag beteween the appearance of the red light for cross traffic, and the appearance of green for the one doing the timing. Success also depends upon there being NOBODY in the flow of cross traffic who happens to legally enter the intersection late in the yellow and still be on the way out as the cross traffic light goes to red. Any vehicle going through late is at high risk for being t-boned by the person "timing" the light.

I'll have to do more sleuthing to get you a cite from the Vehicle Code.

Timing the lights seems to be in the best interests of society in minimizing CO2 emissions (assuming that one believes in that).

As long as you leave a margin so as not to cross the line on a red, I don't see where that can possibly be illegal (though I've been admonished by a Judge for believeing so). It's kinda like thought crimes. Very problemic in my estimation.

Success also depends upon there being NOBODY in the flow of cross traffic who happens to legally enter the intersection late in the yellow and still be on the way out as the cross traffic light goes to red.

Not to mention nobody being in the intersection ILLEGALLY i.e running the red from the other direction. That's the factor that to me makes "timing" seem a fairly insane practice.

>>"Timing" involves trying to gague when the light's going to go green so that you do not have to slow down. If you're right, you hit the limit line as the light's changing, if you're wrong, you blow a red light, and possibly cause a wreck.<<

There is an intersection by where I live where (because of how the lights are timed) I am tempted to do this, but I never do for the simple reason that there is a building right up against the intersection. I cannot see if there are any cars coming. It would be nuts to time it, and you still might hit somebody going the other way that tries to run the yellow and t-bone you.

Timing lights only works when you can clearly see if there are any cars coming. You also have to consider oncoming cars taking a left in front of you - and pedestrians. It aint for the faint of heart.