The older I get the more pet peeves I acquire.

It’s part of life, I reckon.

But one peeve that has annoyed me since I was, well, much younger is a light that turns red for no apparent reason, forcing me to stop — again for no apparent reason.

I encountered such a light today in downtown Amarillo.

My wife and I were traveling northbound on Buchanan Street, right in front of the Amarillo Civic Center when — presto! — the light at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts turned red. We braked quickly to stop; didn’t want a traffic ticket, you know.

Why the annoyance?

The light sits in front of the Globe-News center parking lot, which shortly before 1 p.m. today was empty. No vehicles could be seen on it. Anywhere.

Thus, the question: Why doesn’t the city traffic department turn that light off when no one is using the Globe-News Center?

The technology is there. The city can switch the light across Buchanan to blinking yellow — or it can just turn the signal off completely.

Let me reiterate: There is zero need to stop traffic at that location when nothing is happening at the performing arts venue.

I’m good now … until the next peevish bur gets under my saddle.