Traffic Lights

Robisere

I agree with the OP here: there are so many traffic lights in my town that it does annoy when someone is not paying attention to getting the car in gear and moving off. In the same town, there are pedestrians wandering across between two sets of pedestrian crossings. I have known some to cross behind my car and in front of another, when I am waiting for sensible people to use the crossing. Then there are the drivers who refuse to follow "give way to your right" at roundabouts, those who do not use indicators and those who park at the roadside, then open the door into oncoming traffic.


All of this is infuriating if one allows it to be, which could possibly make it life-shortening as repeated anger, even road rage, can affect blood pressure and cause heart problems. I have quite enough health problems thank you, so I prefer to put it down to experience an drive on. On Market days I will drive up the town bypass, just to get to the other side of town. It's quicker (in a 60 mph limit) and has no traffic lights, just 2 or 3 roundabouts. And it may well be healthier for myself and the town, as I am not held up by all these obstacles above and my car is not stationary, pumping out pollution.

Robisere

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Almost as annoying as waiting behind a woman in the petrol station when she has just got back in her car.

!!!!!! are you doing in there? Drive already!

Why a woman? I have seen plenty of men doing the same! Chillout man, no point getting annoyed about something and someone you can never change.

Norman_Castle

The latest edition of the Highway Code clearly states, "When the light is red, check Facebook".

Norman_Castle

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Almost as annoying as waiting behind a woman in the petrol station when she has just got back in her car.

!!!!!! are you doing in there? Drive already!

I followed a Lamborghini into a petrol station. Two empty pay at pump pumps, one behind the other. I put £20 in and got back into the car to wait, no access around the car. The Lambo finished then walked to the shop to pay, a minute or so later came out, stopped to chat to friends, went to his car, retrieved man bag and returned to the shop. Finally returned to the car, started it, pulled forward then stopped to chat to someone else. He'd looked at me every time he returned to the car so knew I was waiting. Long blast on the horn made him move forward enough for me to pass. When I realised he was following me on the exit route out of the petrol station I slowed to 5mph instead of 10 he had the cheek to flash me.


Ignorance is rife.

Merlin139

Anybody driving should be concentrating on that but sadly we live in a world where people don't just do that. Sometimes they are talking, dreaming, texting, eating, drinking and many other things why they are behind the wheel of the vehicle.

I myself now always apply my handbrake when waiting at a red traffic light after I was rear ended by an idiot who was not watching what they were doing. This means it may take me a second or two to put my vehicle in gear and take the handbrake off before proceeding.

Even if you are in a hurry you cannot control what other people do. You just have to wait for them to do what they need to do.

hollie.weimeraner

Use your horn to wake them up

cubegame

It's a British thing. We are the most unaccomplished and unconfident drivers in the world.

Years and tens of thousands of miles of miles have driving have made me conclude that 9 out of 10 drivers are genuinely terrified about being behind the wheel.

There is no other explaination for most road behaviour.

Car_54

Merlin139 wrote: »

Anybody driving should be concentrating on that but sadly we live in a world where people don't just do that. Sometimes they are talking, dreaming, texting, eating, drinking and many other things why they are behind the wheel of the vehicle.

I myself now always apply my handbrake when waiting at a red traffic light after I was rear ended by an idiot who was not watching what they were doing. This means it may take me a second or two to put my vehicle in gear and take the handbrake off before proceeding.

You are right to apply the handbrake (Highway Code 114). But if you were concentrating - as you recommend - you would be able in most cases to predict the lights changing, by observing the other traffic flows, and sometimes the other lights. Changing traffic lights should never come as a surprise.

Ganga

Car_54 wrote: »

You are right to apply the handbrake (Highway Code 114). But if you were concentrating - as you recommend - you would be able in most cases to predict the lights changing, by observing the other traffic flows, and sometimes the other lights. Changing traffic lights should never come as a surprise.

Just came back from the gym and stopped at the traffic lights ( on red ) handbrake on,lights started to change,handbrake off and then a taxi shot thru on the other road:eek:,would have been great if took off like a boy racer and guarantee the taxi driver would swear his light was still on green when he crossed the line!

Nick_C

But of course a green light means go if the road is clear and it is safe to do so. You obviously shouldn't move off if it is not safe. But if the road is clear, it shouldn't take you 20 seconds to come to the decision that it is safe to move off, as one post suggested!