After years of data showing that Florida drivers routinely interpret red lights as “a strong suggestion,” the Florida Department of Transportation this week unveiled a new traffic signal color designed specifically to bridge what officials are calling “the gap.”

The new light — tentatively named “Absolutely Red” — will illuminate for three seconds between yellow and traditional red, giving drivers what FDOT engineers describe as “one final,  moment to split-decide.”

“We realized that for many Floridians, yellow means ‘accelerate’ and red means ‘you’ve still got time,’” said an FDOT spokesperson during a press conference beside a prototype signal. “This new phase communicates, in the clearest possible terms, that it’s over.”

According to FDOT studies, a significant portion of drivers treat the first two seconds of a red light as an extension of yellow, a phenomenon transportation officials refer to internally as “The Tampa Window.”

“We don’t want to criminalize behavior that appears to be cultural,” the spokesperson added. “We just want to gently guide it.”

The new light glows a deeper, more aggressive shade — somewhere between crimson and “this is legally binding” — and will be accompanied by a subtle flashing effect to convey urgency.

Drivers across the state had mixed reactions.

“So it’s like… red-red?” said one St. Petersburg commuter. “I mean, I’ll see how I feel in the moment.”

Others expressed confusion about how the new phase differs from the existing system.

“Is this before red or after red?” asked a Clearwater resident while inching into an intersection. “Because those are two very different vibes.”

FDOT insists the addition is rooted in safety data, pointing to rising intersection crashes and what one engineer described as “collective optimism” among drivers who believe they can absolutely make it through.

“We’ve tested this in simulations,” said an FDOT traffic systems analyst. “When the new light activates, 62% of drivers immediately reconsider their life choices.”

Notably, the agency clarified that the new signal does not extend the total length of the light cycle. Instead, it reallocates time from what officials described as “the part of green where no one is paying attention anyway.”

Local law enforcement agencies are preparing for the rollout by updating training materials to include the new phase, though one officer admitted enforcement may prove complicated.

“People already argue about what yellow means,” he said. “Now we’ve added nuance.”

Transportation experts say Florida is the first state to formally address what has long been understood informally: that traffic signals operate differently here.

“We’re not saying Florida drivers ignore red lights,” said one policy advisor. “We’re just saying they negotiate with them.”

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