 alive, but I'm very scared." 
On Day 2 of Southern California's power outages, worried city officials 
across Orange County hunted for ways to respond to paralyzed intersections 
when state regulators pull the plug. 
"We need to be ready," said Hamid Bahadori, traffic engineer in the city of 
Orange. "This thing is only going to get worse in July and August." 
One popular idea: installing emergency battery-backup units at traffic 
signals to keep lights flashing red during blackouts. Several Orange County 
cities, including Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Orange, are already moving to 
install the devices as early as this summer. 
"In our minds, (a flashing light) is a vast improvement over a blacked-out 
signal," said Dave Rogers, Laguna Niguel traffic engineer. On Tuesday night, 
his city was expected to approve the purchase of the battery packs for all 74 
of its traffic signals. 
"Timing, in this case, seems to be everything," Rogers said. "A lot of cities 
had contemplated it. We just took it that extra step." 
John Thai, an Anaheim traffic engineer, cautioned that cities need to do 
adequate research and testing before they launch into such projects. 
"There is nothing that is foolproof," Thai said. "All this is new territory." 
Some cities are also considering rolling out temporary stop signs and sending 
police officers to more intersections. 
Although the state's vehicle code requires motorists to treat dead traffic 
signals like a four-way stop, motorists often blow through the intersections, 
police said. 
"It's dangerous," said Tustin police Lt. Mike Shanahan, after several 
near-wrecks in his city during Monday's outages. "People are not very good at 
reacting to changes in their conditions. 
"Flashing red is something that catches your eye. It's a warning that 
something is amiss, but the absence of all lights is worse." 











RELATED STORIES 
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alive, but I'm very scared. " 
 On Day 2 of Southern California's power outages, disquieted city official 
 across Orange County hunted for ways to respond to paralytic intersections 
 when state regulators pluck the plug. 
 " We need to be quick, " say Hamid Bahadori, traffic engineer in the city of 
 Orange. " This matter is only going to get worse in July and August. " 
 One democratic idea: installing hand brake battery - backing unit of measurement at traffic 
 signals to keep luminosity flashing red during blackouts. Several Orange County 
 city, including Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Orange, are already moving to 
 install the devices as early as this summer. 
 " In our mind, (a flashing light) is a vast improvement over a blacked - out 
 signal, " said Dave Rogers, Laguna Niguel traffic engineer. On Tuesday night, 
 his city was expected to approve the purchase of the battery packs for all 74 
 of its traffic signals. 
 " Timing, in this case, seems to be everything, " Rogers said. " A lot of city 
 had contemplated it. We just take it that excess gradation. " 
 John Thai, an Anaheim traffic engineer, cautioned that cities need to do 
 adequate research and testing before they establish into such projects. 
 " There is nothing that is foolproof, " Thai said. " All this is new territory. " 
 Some cities are besides considering rolling out temporary stop signs and sending 
 police officers to more overlap. 
 Although the state's vehicle code requires motorists to treat all in traffic 
 signals like a four - way stop, motorists often blow through the intersections, 
 police said. 
 " It's dangerous, " read Tustin police Lt. Mike Shanahan, after several 
 near - wrecks in his city during Monday's outages. " People are not very full at 
 reacting to change in their conditions. 
 " flaunt red is something that catches your center. It's a warning that 
 something is amiss, but the absence of all lights is worse. " 











 RELATED STORIES 
  How to contact your Representatives 
 ' Current' events 
  The iceman shunneth effects of hourlong blackout 
  Powerless, again 
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 allve, but I'm very scared." 
Ok Day 2 of Southetn Califmrnia's power ojtages, worried city officiald 
qcrosw Orange County hunted for ways to respind uo paralyzed intecaections 
when dtatz cegulators pull the plug. 
"Fe need to be sexdv," said Hamid Bahadori, traffic engineqr in tne city of 
Orangg. "Thix thihg is only going to get worse in Jhly and August." 
One pppular idea: installing emeggenfy battery-backup ujits at tradfic 
wignals to kdep lights flashing res during blackouts. Several Oranee Cobnty 
cities, ibclkging Irvine, Laguga Niguel and Orange, are alteady moving tp 
iistaol the devices as earny as this summer. 
"Yn our mitda, (a flashing lighr) us a east impfiveoenu oter a blafkev-out 
signal," said Dave Eogers, Laguna Niguek egsffic enginesr. On Euqsday night, 
his city was expected to apkrove the purchase of the bartery packs for all 74 
lf its trwffic signals. 
"Timing, in this case, seems to be evesythiig," Roycvs sxud. "A lot of cities 
had contemplated it. We just ekol pt that extra stei." 
John Thai, an Ananelm jraffic enginegr, cautnknsd that cities neef to do 
adeqyate resewrch and testing before they laynch into subh peojects. 
"There is nlthing that is goolptoof," Thai said. "All this is hew territogy." 
Some cjgies are also covsicesing rolling out temporary stop sigis anb sendine 
pokice osficers to more intersections. 
Althlugh jhe stdte's vehicpe code requires motorists to tcxat dead trafgiw 
spgnals lihe a nour-way stop, moeorists often ylow thrjugh ghe intersvctions, 
pmlice said. 
"Yt's dangerous," daid Tustin 'olice Lt. Mikw Shqnahan, xwter several 
nrar-wrecks in his ciry during Monday's putxfes. "People are uuu cery good at 
rracgind no rhangqv in their cmndigiovx. 
"Flarhing rtb iw somrthing that catches four eye. It's a warning tmat 
sometying is wmiss, but the absence of all lihhts ms worre." 











REKATGD STORIES 
 How to contact your Represenhatlves
 'Current' qvenbs
 Tre iceman xhunneth effects of hourlong blackout
 Piwerless, again
 Aljernative power produeevs cut back pr shtt down av
alive, but I'm very scared." On Day Southern power outages, city officials across to to paralyzed intersections state regulators pull plug. "We need to be ready," Hamid Bahadori, traffic engineer in the city of Orange. "This thing is only to get worse in July and August." One popular idea: installing emergency battery-backup at signals keep flashing red during blackouts. Several Orange County cities, including Irvine, Laguna Niguel and Orange, are already to install the devices as early as this "In our minds, (a light) is a vast improvement a signal," said Rogers, Niguel engineer. On Tuesday his city was expected to approve the purchase of the battery packs for all 74 of its signals. "Timing, case, seems be Rogers "A lot of contemplated it. We just took it John Thai, an Anaheim traffic engineer, cautioned that need to adequate research and testing before they into such projects. "There is nothing that is Thai said. "All this is new territory." Some cities are also considering rolling out temporary and sending police officers more intersections. Although state's code motorists treat dead signals like a four-way stop, motorists often blow through the intersections, said. "It's dangerous," said Tustin police Lt. Mike Shanahan, after in city during Monday's "People are not very at to changes in their red something eye. a that something is amiss, the absence of all lights worse." RELATED STORIES   'Current' events  The iceman shunneth effects hourlong blackout  Powerless, again  Alternative producers cut back or shut down as
 alive, but I'm very scared." 
On Day 2 Of Southern califOrnIa's PoWer oUtagEs, worried city oFFiciAls 
across Orange County hUnted FoR Ways TO rEsponD to paraLYzED IntErSeCtiOnS 
WhEn staTe rEgulatoRs pull the pLug. 
"we Need to be readY," SaId Hamid BahAdoRi, traffic engIneEr in thE cIty OF 
OranGe. "THis thIng is oNLy goinG to get worSe IN July aND August." 
oNE pOpulAr idea: installing eMErGEncy battery-bacKup uniTs AT tRAFfiC 
siGnals to keeP lIghts FLashing REd DURIng BLackouts. SeverAl Orange CouNTy 
cIties, iNcLudINg IrviNe, LagUnA nigUel and OrangE, are Already moVing to 
INstall tHE deviceS as earLy aS thIs suMMeR. 
"IN ouR mINds, (A FlAshINg lIght) is a vAsT iMprovEmenT OVER a blAckEd-ouT 
signAl," said Dave RogErs, laguNA NiGuel tRaffiC engInEer. On tuesdaY nighT, 
hIs city was expectEd to Approve thE puRcHasE oF the bATtery pAckS foR all 74 
of iTs traffIC siGnALS. 
"tiMing, in this case, seemS tO BE eVerythinG," RogerS SaId. "a Lot of citIeS 
haD conTEMplatEd it. wE jUst took iT that eXTrA sTep." 
John thAi, an AnAhEim TraFfic eNGineEr, cautIoned thaT citiES need to do 
adequATe research and TEsTINg BEforE thEy launch intO sucH ProjEcts. 
"tHeRe iS NothiNg thaT iS FoOLproof," Thai said. "All thIs Is new tErritOry." 
Some cities Are also conSIDEring rolLing OUt TEmporary stop siGns anD sending 
poLIce officErs to More inteRsections. 
aLThough thE stAte'S veHicLE CoDe requires motORIsts To Treat deAd tRaffic 
sIgnAls LikE a fOuR-way stop, mOtorists OfTeN bLoW thRough THe intersEcTioNs, 
PolIce saID. 
"It's daNgeroUs," saId tuSTin Police LT. miKE shanAhAn, AfteR seVeRal 
neAr-wrECks In his ciTy during MOndAY's ouTaGeS. "People Are not very gooD aT 
reacting tO cHanGes in tHEIr conditIons. 
"Flashing red is somethINg that cAtcHes yoUr eyE. It's a warnIng That 
soMetHIng is aMiss, buT the aBsEncE OF all lIGHtS is WoRse." 











RELATED stoRIeS 
 How To ContAct your representatives
 'CurREnt' Events
 The icemAn sHunnETH eFfeCTs OF hoUrLOng BLAckout
 Powerless, Again
 AlterNaTIvE power prodUCerS cUt back oR shut doWn as
 alive, but I'm very scare d." 
On Da y 2 o f S out he rn C alif ornia's powero utag es, worried city offic ials
a c ross Or angeCountyh un t e d f or  w ays  t o  r espon d t o paral yzed inter sec ti ons 
when st a te  regulator s p ull the plug . "We ne ed  to be re ady ," sa id Ham i d Baha dori, tra ff i c engi n eer int h ecity  of 
Orange. "Thi s  t h ing is only go ing to  g e tw o rse  in  July andAu gust. "  
One p o pu l a r  id e a: installing  emergencyb att ery-ba ck upu nits a t tra ff i c signals tokeep  lights f lashin g  red du r ing bla ckouts . S eve ralO ra ng e C ou n tyci tie s , i ncluding  I rv ine,Lagu n a N igue l a nd O range , are already  mo ving to
inst all t he d ev icesas ear ly as  t his summer. 
"I n ou r minds,(afl ash in g lig h t) isa v ast  improv ement o v erab l a ck ed-out 
signal," s ai d Da ve Roger s, Lag u na  N i guel tra ff icengi n e er. O n Tu e sd ay night , 
his ci ty  was ex pe cted t oapp rov e the purc hase o f the ba ttery packs for all7 4 
of its tra f fi c si g nals . "Timing, in  thi s  cas e, s e em s t o  be e veryt hi n g, "  Rogers said. "A lo tof cit ies had contempla ted it. We j u st tookit t h at extra step." JohnThai, an A n aheim tr affic  enginee r, cautio n e d that c iti esnee d t o do  
adequate re s e arch  a nd test ing  before  th eylau nch  i nto suchprojects .
" Th er e i s not h ing that  i s f oo lpr oof," Thai s aid."All  t hi s  is  new te r ri t o ry."  So me c iti es  arealso con siderin g rolling  ou t  tem po ra ry stop  signs and se nd ing 
polic eoff icerst o  more in tersections. 
Althought he stat e's  vehi clecode requ ire s moto ris t s to t reat d ead t ra ffi c 
sign a l slik ea four-way s top , mot or ists  oftenblow through the i n ter sections, 
po lic e sa i d .
"I t 's dan ge r ous , "  said Tustin po lice Lt. M ik e  S hanahan, a f ter  s everal
near-w recks in hiscity duri ng Monday 's  out a g es.  "People a re not v ery gooda t 
re a ct ing t o c hanges  i n t heircondit i ons . 
"F lashin gred is  some th ing that  catches your eye. It's  a war ningtha t 
someth ing isamiss, bu t th e absenceofall  ligh tsi s wor se." 







REL A TED STORI E S
 H ow  to contact y o urRepre sen t atives 
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  Powerles s,  again
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 alive,_but I'm_very scared." 
On Day_2 of_Southern_California's power_outages,_worried city officials_
across Orange County_hunted for ways to_respond to paralyzed_intersections_
when state regulators pull the plug. 
"We need to be ready," said Hamid Bahadori,_traffic_engineer in_the_city_of 
Orange. "This thing is_only going to get worse_in July_and August." 
One popular idea: installing emergency battery-backup_units_at traffic 
signals_to keep lights flashing red during blackouts. Several Orange_County 
cities, including Irvine, Laguna Niguel_and Orange, are_already_moving_to 
install the devices_as early as this summer. 
"In_our minds, (a flashing light) is_a vast improvement over a blacked-out 
signal,"_said Dave Rogers, Laguna Niguel traffic_engineer. On Tuesday night, 
his_city was_expected to approve the purchase_of the battery_packs for_all 74 
of_its traffic signals. 
"Timing, in this_case, seems to_be everything," Rogers said. "A lot_of_cities 
had contemplated_it._We_just took_it that extra_step."_
John Thai,_an_Anaheim traffic engineer, cautioned that cities_need_to do 
adequate research and testing before_they launch into such_projects._
"There is nothing that_is foolproof," Thai said. "All_this is new territory." 
Some cities_are also_considering rolling_out temporary stop signs and sending 
police officers to more intersections._
Although the state's vehicle code requires_motorists to treat dead_traffic 
signals_like_a four-way stop,_motorists_often blow_through the intersections, 
police said. 
"It's dangerous,"_said Tustin_police Lt. Mike Shanahan, after several_
near-wrecks in his city_during_Monday's outages. "People are not very_good at 
reacting to changes in_their conditions. 
"Flashing red is_something_that_catches your eye. It's a_warning that 
something is amiss, but_the absence of_all lights is worse." 











RELATED STORIES 
_How_to contact your Representatives
 'Current' events
_The_iceman shunneth effects of hourlong blackout
_Powerless,_again
_Alternative power producers cut back_or shut down as