A. Human behavior may be the problem.

Traffic signals on Highway 12 at highways K, P and 19 are "fully actuated," in the language of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

That means sensors in the pavement on all approaches to the intersections detect the metal of a vehicle and trigger the signal.

"It only takes one car to notify the controller that somebody is there," said Dena Dramm, traffic operations engineer for the DOT.

That electronic controller, however, assumes all drivers drive legally and don't run red or yellow lights.

"One thing we can't control is drivers," Dramm said. "Every signal behaves the exact same way, but the drivers at each intersection behave differently."

What's probably happening is that Highway 19 scofflaws have been sneaking through yellow or red lights. Then the light turns red on Highway 12 when our curious reader sees it, "but the driver on Highway 19 has disappeared," Dramm said.

After a State Journal inquiry, the DOT checked the signal and adjusted its timing.

"We've programmed the controller not to recognize a call for Highway 19 traffic for a couple of seconds delay," she said. "Hopefully, this will reduce the frequency with which it goes green on 19 with no one being there."

-- State Journal staff

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