One minute 30 seconds

// April 2nd, 2009 // time

The average red light time is one minute 30 seconds.  At least that’s what I’ve been finding around my neck of the woods (I’ve actually been timing them recently out of curiosity). One minute 30 seconds.  When you’re late it seems like an eternity.  When you’re angry late, it’s eternity squared. If you consider all the minute and 30 seconds available on any given day, it’s amazing how this one little ole minute and 30 seconds wields so much power and control over us.

A whole new industry has sprouted up almost overnight because one minute and 30 seconds is just too confining for the demanding schedules of us humans. And for all its trappings, beating the red light to the punch, getting your picture taken, and paying a hefty fine pales in comparison to the humiliation of realizing you’ve lost to a machine.  You cower in your seat, banging your fist against the steering wheel as the brilliant red globe stares back with a smile, knowing it has your attention for at least another one minute and 30 seconds.