Those who would perceive themselves our masters are at it again.

Pleasanton is about to turn the fast into the furious.

In a move unprecedented in the Bay Area, the city’s traffic engineers have created a traffic signal with attitude. It senses when a speeder is approaching and metes out swift punishment.

It doesn’t write a ticket. It immediately turns from green to yellow to red.

Residents and commute-jockeys said Tuesday that the light, which the city plans to unveil today on Vineyard Avenue at the intersection of Montevino Drive, is either an inspired leap into the future or a blatant example of government overzealousness.

I’m not terribly convinced this is a good idea.  In fact, it could either encourage red-light running or it could cause rear-end collisions if someone in front of the speeder sees the light and stops.

It’s not speeding per-se that is dangerous.  Further, I’m cynical and experienced enough to know that many times speed limits are set with revenue generation or political motives in mind (*).  Many times we see that prevailing traffic patterns (when the road isn’t overloaded) move quite a bit faster than the speed limit.  The real problem is reckless driving.  Maybe they should reexamine the speed limit on this road if there is a lot of speeding.

* Some examples that encouraged my cynicism and my contempt for speed limits:

• The whole 55MPH debacle.
• The reduction of speed limits on the interstates in the D/FW area from 70 to 65 to “reduce air pollution.”
• The town of Argyle.