Traffic Lights

fred990

This subject, the speeding one, tailgating, inability to merge in turn, texting, jumping red lights, general inattentive behaviour (not to mention actual crashes!). Roll on driverless cars....

almillar

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,

Round my way observing traffic flow (I know what you mean) doesn't work often. The traffic is still flowing while my light changes!

Especially if you're at the front, you have a responsibility to pay attention to the lights and traffic flow. You should be ready for amber, and get into gear and onto the handbrake, to MOVE ON GREEN when safe to do so. Doing otherwise is lazy and selfish.

People accusing others of being in too much of a rush - it's just good driving. No-one is racing. Seconds DO matter at traffic lights, you mightn't be green for long, and someone asleep at the wheel in the queue IS the difference between the queue clearing, or starting to build up. If it happens again, the queue gets longer. Etc.

Mercdriver

It must be so great to be perfect...

Deastons

Mercdriver wrote: »

It must be so great to be perfect...

Erm. Yeah, it is. You should try it sometime.

facade

Mercdriver wrote: »

It must be so great to be perfect...

Not really. I don't know what imperfect feels like, perfect is just normal.

almillar

It must be so great to be perfect...

Don't know who that's aimed at, but feel free to elaborate if you think you don't have to pay attention at the front of a queue of traffic...

mtc95

almillar wrote: »

Round my way observing traffic flow (I know what you mean) doesn't work often. The traffic is still flowing while my light changes!

Especially if you're at the front, you have a responsibility to pay attention to the lights and traffic flow. You should be ready for amber, and get into gear and onto the handbrake, to MOVE ON GREEN when safe to do so. Doing otherwise is lazy and selfish.

People accusing others of being in too much of a rush - it's just good driving. No-one is racing. Seconds DO matter at traffic lights, you mightn't be green for long, and someone asleep at the wheel in the queue IS the difference between the queue clearing, or starting to build up. If it happens again, the queue gets longer. Etc.

Agreed and I would say it applies to everyone in the queue, not just the person in front. It's annoying when you are some way back in the queue, you see the lights go green in the distance, the cars at the front move but someone a couple places in front of you is half-asleep or more likely, checking their phone, and leaves a long gap before they decide to move. Inevitably, they get through just as the lights change back while you have to wait.

facade

almillar wrote: »

Don't know who that's aimed at, but feel free to elaborate if you think you don't have to pay attention at the front of a queue of traffic...

I assume he is hinting that in order to criticise the behaviour of others, you need to be perfect yourself.


However, I've got that covered


(In order to throw stones, one must first ensure that one is not standing in a greenhouse )

almillar

He's the one that brought up the word perfect - something I'm certainly not. If you stall when the light turns green, I won't honk at you. But if you sit at a green light for 5 seconds (yes - count them!) you'll get a honk. That's 3 seconds longer than Italians wait! (and by the way, the Italian would just drive off, with zero attitude for 'being honked at').
Paying attention at a set of lights does not need anything like perfection.

Mercdriver

Deastons wrote: »

Erm. Yeah, it is. You should try it sometime.

There is no such thing as a perfect driver. Every driver makes mistakes and anyone who doesn't think they do is not seeing reality and should give up driving as recognising your own errors is part of the constant learning process of driving.