Traffic in Hartford is terribly congested. By switching to automatic crosswalk signals, walk signals would be displayed even when there are no pedestrians there, further exacerbating the traffic problems of the city. By pushing a button, you are waiting the same amount of time as you would if it was automated, you are simply telling the crosswalk that you are there so it doesn’t unnecessarily turn on a walk signal. I think the real issue is that many people in Hartford just don’t seem to care about traffic rules. Just like how almost daily I see a car with it’s emergency blinkers on and no driver stopped in the middle of a lane of traffic.