“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines”

David Letterman, the host of television’s Late Night with David Letterman from New York City, commented about driving in the city:
 
“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.”
 
It’s not known on what show that Letterman made the quote, but it was printed in the book 1,911 Best Things Anybody Ever Said (1988). The quotation has also been included in many other books.
   
   
Wikipedia: David Letterman
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American former television and radio host, comedian, writer, producer, and actor.
 
He hosted a late night television talk show for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC, and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. In total, Letterman hosted 6,028 episodes of Late Night and Late Show, surpassing friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late night talk show host in American television history.
     
Google Books
1,911 Best Things Anybody Ever Said
By Robert Byrne
New York, NY: Fawcett, Columbine
1988
Pg. 198:
323
Traflic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.
David Letterman
 
Google Books
The Big Book of Amazing Mac Facts
By Lon Poole
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Press
1991      
Pg. 163:
Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.
David Letterman
 
Google Books
The Executive’s Book of Quotations
By Julia Vitullo-Martin and J. Robert Moskin
New York, NY: Oxford University Press
1994
Pg. 206:
“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.”
DAVID LETTERMAN, TV host (New York Observer, September 9, 1991)
 
Google Groups: atl.general
Atlanta traffic lights
T. High
5/15/95
(...)
“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.”
- David Letterman
 
Google Books
1001 Greatest Things Ever Said about New York
By C, J,  Sullivan
Guilford, CT: Lyons Press
2006
Pg. 10:
Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines. — David Letterman
 
Twitter
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‏@AMillionLaughs
“Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.” ~David Letterman | #comedy #quotes
2:02 PM - 29 Jan 2016