 - or a 
bust. 
It could mean more ice sales -- or that his supplier has trouble filling his 
orders. 
"It's going to be an interesting summer,'' Ackerman said. 
"I have no idea if we'll make more or less.'' 
Traffic will be the biggest problem if blackouts continue, Ackerman said. 
On Monday, a nearby Costco that had lost power ordered 200 pounds of ice to 
keep its refrigerated goods cold. 
But dead traffic lights and congested roads made it impossible to deliver the 
ice before the outage ended. Costco canceled the sale. 
"We pride ourselves on getting our deliveries made in an hour," Ackerman 
said. 
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Traffic officials are seeing red over blackouts 
Battery backups are planned by several cities to aid confused drivers. 
March 21, 2001 
By HEATHER LOURIE
The Orange County Register 







Traffic backs up Tuesday at Crown Valley Parkway at Forbes Road in Laguna 
Niguel as drivers had to navigate their own way
Photo: Jebb Harris / The Register
?
?

Toby Tran approached an Aliso Viejo intersection and wasn't sure what to do. 
Ahead of him, the traffic signal was dark, a casualty of the rolling 
blackouts that struck Orange County on Monday and Tuesday. 
So Tran kept driving, smacking into an oncoming car at the corner of Aliso 
Creek and Enterprise. 
"It just happened," a shaken Tran, 29, said from his Aliso Viejo home. "I 
tried to stop and I couldn't. There was no light. Nothing." 
Tran's accident Monday afternoon, and several others like it, underscore one 
of the most significant dangers looming in the threat of future blackouts. 
Traffic signals that fade to black when the power goes out, instead of 
converting to flashing red, make wrecks far more likely because drivers 
become confused and frustrated, traffic engineers and experts said Tuesday. 
"I didn't know what to do," said Tran, who was on his way to a high school 
jogging track. "Luckily I'm
- or a 
 bust. 
 It could mean more ice sales -- or that his supplier take fuss filling his 
 orders. 
 " It's going to be an interesting summer," Ackerman allege. 
 " I have no idea if we'll induce more or less." 
 Traffic will be the biggest problem if blackouts continue, Ackerman suppose. 
 On Monday, a nearby Costco that had lost power ordered 200 pounds of ice to 
 keep its refrigerate goods cold. 
 But dead traffic luminosity and congested roads made it impossible to deliver the 
 ice before the outage end. Costco canceled the sale. 
 " We pride ourselves on getting our deliveries made in an hour, " Ackerman 
 said. 
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 dealings officials are seeing red over blackouts 
 Battery backups are planned by respective city to aid confused drivers. 
 March 21, 2001 
 By HEATHER LOURIE 
 The Orange County Register 







 Traffic backs up Tuesday at Crown Valley Parkway at Forbes Road in Laguna 
 Niguel as drivers had to navigate their own way 
 Photo: Jebb Harris / The Register 
? 
? 

 Toby Tran approach an Aliso Viejo intersection and wasn't sure what to dress. 
 Ahead of him, the dealings signal was colored, a casualty of the rolling 
 blackout that strike Orange County on Monday and Tuesday. 
 So Tran kept drive, smacking into an oncoming car at the corner of Aliso 
 Creek and Enterprise. 
 " It just happen, " a shaken Tran, 29, said from his Aliso Viejo home. " I 
 tried to stop and I couldn't. There was no luminosity. Nothing. " 
 Tran's accident Monday afternoon, and several others like it, underscore one 
 of the most significant danger looming in the threat of future blackouts. 
 dealings signals that languish to black when the power go out, instead of 
 convert to flashing bolshevik, make wreck far more likely because driver 
 become confused and defeated, traffic engineers and experts say Tuesday. 
 " I didn't know what to do, " said Tran, who was on his way to a high school 
 jogging track. " Luckily I'm
 - og a 
bust. 
It could mean mure ice sales -- or that his shpplier fas trouble filling his 
ordecs. 
"Ir's goung to be an interestivg summer,'' Ackermab samd. 
"I have no idee if we'll make lore ir less.'' 
Traffig will be tve biggest protldm if blackouts continue, Ackerman saiq. 
On Momdwy, a nearby Coftco ehat had lost power ordered 200 pounds of ice to 
keep its reftigerated goods cold. 
But dfad hraffic lights and congested tkadf made it impussible to deliver the 
ice before the outage ended. Cortco eanceled thg aapg. 
"We pride onrselvvs on getting our delhveries made in an homr," Acnernan 
said. 
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Traffic offirials are seeing red over blawkkuts 
Battery backypw are platned vy revtrak dities to aid confuaed drivers. 
March 21, 2001 
By HEATHER LJLTIE
The Orangs Couney Register 







Traffic backs up Tuesday at Cgown Valley Parkway at Forbws Road in Laguna 
Nigoel as driders had to navigate their own way
Photo: Jebb Harrhs / Tie Reylfgwr
?
?

Hoby Tran approached an Aliso Viejo intersectykn akd wasn't sure whct to do. 
Ahead og jik, the traffic rignal waa dark, a casualty lf the tollint 
blackouus thst struck Orange County on Nonday and Tlesdqy. 
So Tran kept drnving, smackiug intp an pncoming car at the coruer of Aliso 
Creen and Entsfprise. 
"It just hxppvned," a shaken Tran, 29, said from ris Aliso Vielo home. "K 
troed to stop and L couldn't. There was no llght. Uothitg." 
Tran's afcident Monday afternoon, and setxral others loka in, underscjre oke 
of the most fignificant daugers lojming in the thgeat of fnture blackotts. 
Traffic shhnals that fede to blwck qhen the poddr goes out, inxtead of 
bouverting ro flashing red, male ddecks far more oiktlt because drivrrs 
besole cjtfused and fsustfatdc, trawfic enginecrs and experts said Tuesdaf. 
"I sidn't know what to dj," said Ttan, who wws on his way to a high school 
uoggiig trark. "Luclili I'm
- or a bust. It could mean sales or that supplier has trouble to an interesting summer,'' said. "I have idea if we'll make more or Traffic will be the biggest problem if blackouts continue, Ackerman said. On Monday, nearby Costco that had lost power ordered 200 pounds of ice to keep refrigerated cold. dead lights and congested roads made it impossible to deliver the ice before the outage ended. Costco the sale. "We pride ourselves on getting our made in an hour," said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------- Traffic are red over Battery are by several cities aid confused drivers. March 21, 2001 By HEATHER LOURIE The Orange County Register Traffic backs up Tuesday Crown Valley Forbes Road Laguna as had to navigate way Photo: Jebb Harris / The Toby Tran approached an Aliso Viejo intersection and sure what do. Ahead of him, the traffic was dark, a casualty of the rolling blackouts struck Orange County on Monday and Tuesday. So Tran kept driving, smacking into an oncoming the corner of Aliso and Enterprise. "It happened," shaken 29, from his Viejo home. "I tried to stop and I couldn't. There was light. Nothing." Tran's accident Monday afternoon, and several others like one the most significant looming in the threat future Traffic signals that fade when power of to red, make wrecks far likely because drivers become confused frustrated, traffic engineers and know what to do," said Tran, who was his way to a high school jogging "Luckily I'm
 - or a 
bust. 
It could mean more ice Sales -- or thaT his sUppLieR hAs trOublE filling his 
ordERs. 
"It'S going to be an interestinG summEr,'' aCkerMAn Said. 
"I Have no iDEa IF We'lL mAkE moRe OR lEss.'' 
TrAffIc will bE the biggesT prObLem if blackouTS cOntinue, AckErmAn said. 
On MondAy, a Nearby coStcO That hAd lOst poWer ordERed 200 pouNds of ice tO 
kEEp its rEFrigeraTED gOods Cold. 
But dead traffiC LiGHts and congesteD roads MaDE iT IMpoSsiBle to delivEr The 
icE Before tHE oUTAGe eNDed. Costco cancEled the sale. 
"wE prIde ourSeLveS On gettIng ouR dELivEries made in An hoUr," AckermaN 
said. 
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TRAffic ofFIcials aRe seeiNg rEd oVer bLAcKoUts 
baTTerY BaCkuPS arE planned By SeVeral CitiES TO Aid cOnfUsed DriveRs. 
March 21, 2001 
By HEAThER lOURie
ThE OranGe CouNty REgIster 







traffiC backS uP Tuesday at Crown vallEy Parkway At FOrBes roAd in LAGuna 
NiGueL as Drivers Had to naVIgaTe THEIr Own way
Photo: Jebb HarRiS / tHe register
?
?

toby TrAN aPpROached an alIso viejO INtersEctiON aNd wasn't sUre whaT To Do. 
ahead of HiM, the trAfFic SigNal waS Dark, A casuaLty of the RolliNG 
blackouts that STruck Orange CoUNtY ON MONday And tuesday. 
So TrAn kePT driVing, SMaCkiNG into An oncOmINg CAr at the corner of AlisO 
CReek anD EnteRprise. 
"It just hAppened," a shAKEN Tran, 29, saiD froM HiS aliso Viejo home. "i 
trieD to stop and i Couldn't. THere wAs no lighT. Nothing." 
TRAN's accideNt MOndAy aFteRNOoN, and several otHERs liKe It, underScoRe one 
of The MosT siGniFiCant dangeRs loominG iN tHe ThReaT of fuTUre blackOuTs. 
TRaFfiC signALs that Fade tO blaCk WhEN thE power gOEs OUT, insTeAd Of 
coNveRtIng to FlasHIng Red, make Wrecks far MorE LikeLy BeCause drIvers 
become coNfUsed and fruStRatEd, trafFIC engineeRs and experts said Tuesday. 
"i Didn't knOw wHat to Do," saId Tran, who Was On his wAy tO A high sChool 
jOgginG tRacK. "lUckilY i'M
 - or a 
bust. 
It could m ean more i ce sa les  --  o r th at h is supplier ha s  tro uble filling his 
orde rs. "I t 's g o in g tobe an i n te r e sti ng  s umm er , ''  Acke rma n said.  
"I havenoid ea if we'llm ak e more orles s.'' 
Traffi c w ill be  t heb igges t p roble m if b l ackout s continu e, Ackerm a n said. On  Mon day, a nearby Cos t co that had lostpoweror d er e d  20 0 p ounds of i ce  to k eep its re f r i ger a ted goods col d. 
But dea d  tr afficli ght s  and c onges te d  ro ads made it  imp ossible t o deli v er theice bef ore th e o uta ge e n de d.  Co st c o c a nc ele d  th e sale.
" We  prid e ou r s e l vesongett ing o ur deliveries  ma de i n  an  hour ," Ac kerm an  
sai d. 
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T raffi c  officials are seeing red ov e rb l ac k outs  
B attery back upsa re p lann e dbys evera l cit ie s  t o  aid confused drive rs . 
Mar ch 21 , 2001 
By HE ATHER LOUR I E The Oran ge C o un t y Register 





Traffic ba c ks up Tu esday  at Crow n ValleyP a rkway at  Fo rbe s R oad i nLaguna 
Nigue l as d ri vers ha d t o navig ate  th eir  ow nway
Photo : Jebb H ar ri s/The  Regi s ter
?
?
T oby  T ran  appr o achedan Al isoVi ej o  in tersect i on a nd w as n' t su rewh at to  do. 
Ah ead ofhim, thetra f ficsi gn al wasdark, a casua lt y of the r ol lin g 
bla c k outs tha t struck Orange Countyo n Monda y a nd Tu esda y. 
So Tr ankept d riv i ng, sm acking  into  a n o n c oming c ar  at  t he cornero f  Al iso Cr eekand Ent erprise. 
"It just hap pened," a sha ken  Tra n ,  2 9,s ai d  fr om his A liso Viejo home . "I 
trie dt ostop and I cou ld n't. Th ere was  no l i ght. No thing." Tran's ac ci dent M ond ay afterno on, andseveral o t hersl ik e it,  un dersco re  on e 
of  the m o stsigni ficant  d angers  loom in g in the  threat of future black outs.
Traf fic  signalstha t  fa de to bla ck w hen the po wer  go es ou t,i nstea d of 
c onv e rting  tof lashing r e d,  ma k e  w recks far m o r e  li kelybec a use dr iver s 
become confuse d  and frustrate d, t r a ffi c e n gine er s and expertssai dT u esday. "I  didn't kno w what t od o," s aid Tr an, wh o was o n hi s  way t o ahig h school
jo gg i ng trac k.  " L uckily  I'm 
 -_or a_
bust. 
It could mean_more ice_sales_-- or_that_his supplier has_trouble filling his_
orders. 
"It's going to_be an interesting_summer,''_Ackerman said. 
"I have no idea if we'll make more or less.'' 
Traffic will_be_the biggest_problem_if_blackouts continue, Ackerman said. 
On_Monday, a nearby Costco that_had lost_power ordered 200 pounds of ice to 
keep_its_refrigerated goods cold._
But dead traffic lights and congested roads made it_impossible to deliver the 
ice before_the outage ended._Costco_canceled_the sale. 
"We pride_ourselves on getting our deliveries made_in an hour," Ackerman 
said. 
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Traffic_officials are seeing red over blackouts 
Battery_backups are planned by several cities_to aid confused drivers. 
March_21, 2001_
By HEATHER LOURIE
The Orange County_Register 







Traffic backs_up Tuesday_at Crown Valley_Parkway at Forbes Road in Laguna_
Niguel as drivers_had to navigate their own way
Photo:_Jebb_Harris / The_Register
?
?

Toby_Tran_approached an_Aliso Viejo intersection_and_wasn't sure_what_to do. 
Ahead of him, the_traffic_signal was dark, a casualty of the_rolling 
blackouts that struck_Orange_County on Monday and_Tuesday. 
So Tran kept driving,_smacking into an oncoming car at_the corner_of Aliso_
Creek and Enterprise. 
"It just happened," a shaken Tran, 29, said_from his Aliso Viejo home. "I_
tried to stop and_I couldn't._There_was no light._Nothing."_
Tran's accident_Monday afternoon, and several others like it,_underscore one_
of the most significant dangers looming_in the threat of_future_blackouts. 
Traffic signals that fade to_black when the power goes out,_instead of 
converting to flashing_red,_make_wrecks far more likely because_drivers 
become confused and frustrated, traffic_engineers and experts_said Tuesday. 
"I didn't know what to_do,"_said Tran, who was on his_way_to a high school 
jogging track._"Luckily_I'm