I heard on the radio that a lot of people there are without power (as are I and most of the people around me in Takoma Park, MD). A lot of traffic lights are out, so I try to minimize my driving around to observe local damage. (A lot of drivers are barreling through blown traffic lights, instead of treating them as stops. I got rear-ended in a fender-bender last night because of one such driver. The malfunctioning traffic lights are a real hazard -- there have been several serious accidents that I suspect were caused by them. Pepco's failure to get those traffic lights back up by now is a real scandal.)
I can't tell you how many times I have heard it repeated on the radio: Treat non-functioning traffic lights as 4-way stops. The problem is, most people have no clue as the rules of the road of a 4-way stop. wich is another reason the authorities ask people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary - first they hamper rescue and power and other crews, and second they wind up causing more need for more of the above named crews.
The malfunctioning traffic lights are a real hazard -- there have been several serious accidents that I suspect were caused by them. Pepco's failure to get those traffic lights back up by now is a real scandal.)
Yes the malfunctioning lights are a hazard - but I suspect the cause of the accidents is more likely your observation regarding how many people handle the situation.
I wouldn't lay much of the blame on the power companies as I would the planners (read government bureaucrats) that set up the grids. Because of the nature of traffic signals it is impossible for them to be on their own seperate grid. They are generally connected to a particular power trunk in the the particular area they are located.
Once that particular grid is back on line, so are the lights. Unfortunately in situations such as we are suffering right now - there could be breaks in a couple of dozen different spots in just one small grid.
I am normally the first one to jump on power companies for numerous different things, except in situation such as this.
When the dust settles and all power is restored - then will be the time to really look into a better system of dealing with getting essential lights back on.
Please don't take me wrong, I'm not jumping on you at all - I understand, and agree with you totaly about the number of malfunctioning traffic lights during power outages, anywhere and at anytime, are scandalous.