Many drivers have uttered some version of the same sentiment at one point or another.

“That’s the shortest light in the world!”

But when Tom Newell noticed an unusually short, sometimes nonexistent turn signal at McCain Drive and U.S. 40 on the Golden Mile, he did something about it.

Newell, a Middletown resident, is a general contractor. As such, he goes to Home Depot “just about every day,” he said Monday.

Newell said sensors at the light, which is located near the store, either did not recognize that vehicles were waiting to make the left turn or let only a few vehicles through the intersection per cycle despite long lines in the left-turn lane.

“It was just very aggravating,” he said. “I guess I just got fed up.”

He wrote a letter to the editor that appeared in the July 6 edition of The Frederick News-Post, which prompted the State Highway Administration to take action.

According to SHA spokeswoman Heather Keels, the organization temporarily altered the signal settings July 10 so it would include a left-turn arrow for every signal cycle.

More permanent measures were taken July 17 and the sensor, which is imbedded in the pavement, was altered to increase sensitivity.

“We rely on the people who drive those roads every day to alert us if something is not working right,” she said.

Last week alone, 31 similar signal-related requests came in to SHA’s statewide Office of Traffic and Safety.

Even more may have gone through jurisdiction-specific offices, she said.

“I was very surprised that they followed up with me,” Newell said. “I was pretty impressed.”

He said he has noticed a vast improvement at the signal since SHA was alerted.

“It’s not like it’s this big deal,” Newell said. “It’s like having a muffler fixed on your car. It’s just back working the way it’s supposed to work, and it makes me happy.”

Newell said this sequence of events may lead to him report more problems he notices in his travels.

“It does give you a sense of, ‘Well I don’t have to put up with that,'” he said.

Keels said the most efficient way to alert SHA of nonemergency issues is to use an online system that was implemented in late 2009, by visiting www.roads.maryland.gov, clicking on “contact us,” and filling out a service request form.