Does red light camera has a delay?

Username03725

zagfles said:

Username03725 said:

Deleted_User said:

...nobody is a perfect driver especially the "Ok, I'll bite" commenter who I'd actually worry about more for being so confident of their skills and relies on the "luck" of not encountering drivers with different skills sets.

Oh my word. Are you serious? If so, how do you square that with what I actually said...?

I'm not perfect, but was taught the importance of thinking about my driving and improving by being aware. Maybe I'm awful, maybe I'm ok but I don't hog middle lanes, am careful to indicate correctly, use roundabouts correctly, am courteous to other road users etc etc.

The difference is that from my early lessons, passing the test, first solo drives all the way up to the present day and onwards I've been aware that no-one - including me - is perfect, and that learning to drive is an on-gong process that never ends as the roads change and traffic changes from how it was even 5 years ago, let alone 40. I recognise that, and try to keep up with modern teaching techniques (chatting to my sons' instructors was v useful to see what the modern thinking is for various techniques). I don't know how many people on here regularly buy the latest HC. I do. It's about awareness and self-awareness. I'm not perfect, the difference is I recognise that shortcomings can be improved on, and I make an effort to do that. I don't need to come on here bleating about how to approach an amber light, hoping that I wasn't flashed by the camera. 

If you're exhibiting "modern teaching techniques" no wonder so many kids these days have mental health issues !!

I don't know if you're being obtuse or are just a bit slow, but that reference to teaching was clearly a reference to how learners are taught these days and what I might pick up from it, as evidenced by the parenthesis that followed and the nod to my sons' instructors. V poor effort on your part, and a cheap shot too. But par for the course tbh...

2/10.

Username03725

Ermia said:

Having high standards and expecting others to comply with rules and safety, is a plus. I admire that. But verbally abusing others who haven't reached your expected standards (or have some issues), is not OK.
"I don't need to come on here bleating about...", then don't. Gone are the days when guillotine was a tool for "correcting people".

Sorry Ermia, I'd moved on and wasn't criticising you, I was getting exasperated at having to defend what I see as wanting to be better. It would appear that there's a very narrow window of acceptable to some people, to the point where criticism is lobbed just for wanting to be better than the bare minimum but any attempt at aiming for excellence is completely verboten. That's the UK in 2021 I suppose. Shame, but there yer go...

AdrianC

I've driven in a lot of countries, and I've seen plenty of countdown-from-red timers, but NEVER a countdown-from-green. It would just encourage people to accelerate at an amber.

Ermia

AdrianC said:

I've driven in a lot of countries, and I've seen plenty of countdown-from-red timers, but NEVER a countdown-from-green. It would just encourage people to accelerate at an amber.

ِTrue, it's still is open to debate in those countries whether it's a good idea to have a countdown from green (or have countdowns at all). 
Here is a translation from a recent news article:

Amir Ali Amini, head of the traffic lights management unit of the Tehran Traffic Control Company, says: "Those in favour of [countdowns] believe that if the green light time is long enough, the driver will focus on the junction and the pedestrians rather than the colour of the light. On the other hand, with the information given to the driver by the countdown, he can easily make the right decision and stop in time. This also helps pedestrians to cross more safely. Similarly, countdowns from red improve the mental comfort of the driver as he knows the number of seconds he needs to wait.
However, those against the countdown argue that the drivers tend to increase the speed at the end of the green phase, and thus safety levels may decline."

Car_54

Ermia said:

AdrianC said:

I've driven in a lot of countries, and I've seen plenty of countdown-from-red timers, but NEVER a countdown-from-green. It would just encourage people to accelerate at an amber.

ِTrue, it's still is open to debate in those countries whether it's a good idea to have a countdown from green (or have countdowns at all). 
Here is a translation from a recent news article:

Amir Ali Amini, head of the traffic lights management unit of the Tehran Traffic Control Company, says: "Those in favour of [countdowns] believe that if the green light time is long enough, the driver will focus on the junction and the pedestrians rather than the colour of the light. On the other hand, with the information given to the driver by the countdown, he can easily make the right decision and stop in time. This also helps pedestrians to cross more safely. Similarly, countdowns from red improve the mental comfort of the driver as he knows the number of seconds he needs to wait.
However, those against the countdown argue that the drivers tend to increase the speed at the end of the green phase, and thus safety levels may decline."

The rate of road deaths and injuries in Iran is about ten times that in the UK. Amir Ali Amini may not be the best source of advice.

lisyloo

Ermia said:

Username03725 said:

And honestly, the word is brake. A car has brakes, when you hit the brakes you are braking, as you know full well from reading the Highway Code section on Braking Distances. When a car breaks, it needs fixing. If you're breaking, see a medical professional.

I appreciate that you value road safety, and thanks for the spell checking. I get your points. Nonetheless, I don't find your approach constructive for anything that involves human beings. If you were my driving instructor, I would have quit driving. And if you were my teacher, I would have preferred to be illiterate rather than being ashamed and humiliated.

lisyloo said:

I would recommend having a look for a local ROSPA or IAM group.
If money is a concern then ROSPA are a good choice.
They pair you up with a volunteer and you contribute towards their petrol.
ROSPA are better cost wise if that's a concern because you pay less up front and don't need to take a test to get the benefit of the sessions.
But either would be a worthwhile investment if they save a single accident.
You can also get a discount on your insurance once you pass a test (and that is a very good indicator of less accidents as insurance companies don't give discounts for no reason).
They are charities and they don't put a limit on how many sessions you have.

 

Great, I'll take a look at RoSPA. I hope it's cheaper than having driving instructors so that I can practice longer for less cost.

I've been driving in another country for over a decade, and the system is somewhat different (e.g. almost all red lights have digital countdown timers, so I used to have plenty of thinking time). That's why perhaps some experienced and friendly guy from RoSPA who advises me for an extended period would be more helpful than spending some expensive hours with an instructor.

It would be superb if I could get some insurance discount for this, too.

It may be free or you may wish to buy your tutor a cup of tea/coffee when you have a break or de-brief.
I used to do it on motorbikes when we'd ask for a few quid toward fuel as the tutor would be riding a separate motorbike, but that wouldn't apply if your tutor is in your car.

zagfles

Username03725 said:

zagfles said:

Username03725 said:

Deleted_User said:

...nobody is a perfect driver especially the "Ok, I'll bite" commenter who I'd actually worry about more for being so confident of their skills and relies on the "luck" of not encountering drivers with different skills sets.

Oh my word. Are you serious? If so, how do you square that with what I actually said...?

I'm not perfect, but was taught the importance of thinking about my driving and improving by being aware. Maybe I'm awful, maybe I'm ok but I don't hog middle lanes, am careful to indicate correctly, use roundabouts correctly, am courteous to other road users etc etc.

The difference is that from my early lessons, passing the test, first solo drives all the way up to the present day and onwards I've been aware that no-one - including me - is perfect, and that learning to drive is an on-gong process that never ends as the roads change and traffic changes from how it was even 5 years ago, let alone 40. I recognise that, and try to keep up with modern teaching techniques (chatting to my sons' instructors was v useful to see what the modern thinking is for various techniques). I don't know how many people on here regularly buy the latest HC. I do. It's about awareness and self-awareness. I'm not perfect, the difference is I recognise that shortcomings can be improved on, and I make an effort to do that. I don't need to come on here bleating about how to approach an amber light, hoping that I wasn't flashed by the camera. 

If you're exhibiting "modern teaching techniques" no wonder so many kids these days have mental health issues !!

I don't know if you're being obtuse or are just a bit slow, but that reference to teaching was clearly a reference to how learners are taught these days and what I might pick up from it, as evidenced by the parenthesis that followed and the nod to my sons' instructors. V poor effort on your part, and a cheap shot too. But par for the course tbh...

2/10.

Do I get detention, or just lines

zagfles

AdrianC said:

I've driven in a lot of countries, and I've seen plenty of countdown-from-red timers, but NEVER a countdown-from-green. It would just encourage people to accelerate at an amber.

That makes no sense. Amber without a countdown already encourages acceleration, as mentioned above. A timer would mean knowing if it's likely to change soon, ie giving more than a 3 second warning. You know, like mentioned above about taking into account whether it's been green for a while, but without having to know the phasing, and also works when you don't know how long it's been green for (eg traffic lights only just come into view round a corner)

zagfles

Car_54 said:

Ermia said:

AdrianC said:

I've driven in a lot of countries, and I've seen plenty of countdown-from-red timers, but NEVER a countdown-from-green. It would just encourage people to accelerate at an amber.

ِTrue, it's still is open to debate in those countries whether it's a good idea to have a countdown from green (or have countdowns at all). 
Here is a translation from a recent news article:

Amir Ali Amini, head of the traffic lights management unit of the Tehran Traffic Control Company, says: "Those in favour of [countdowns] believe that if the green light time is long enough, the driver will focus on the junction and the pedestrians rather than the colour of the light. On the other hand, with the information given to the driver by the countdown, he can easily make the right decision and stop in time. This also helps pedestrians to cross more safely. Similarly, countdowns from red improve the mental comfort of the driver as he knows the number of seconds he needs to wait.
However, those against the countdown argue that the drivers tend to increase the speed at the end of the green phase, and thus safety levels may decline."

The rate of road deaths and injuries in Iran is about ten times that in the UK. Amir Ali Amini may not be the best source of advice.

Chicken and egg. Like the question of whether someone who has a bath twice a day is very clean or very dirty.

If a country has different traffic rules, are those the cause of bad driving or the response to bad driving.

NBLondon

Ermia said:

Actually, I am very cautious and used to brake all the time at the amber light, unless it's clear I won't stop on the line.  

That's correct. Amber means stop unless it is unsafe to do so.

Ermia said:

But very recently, a friend of mine saw my driving and advised me to try to pass amber lights whenever possible, because most drivers do so and if I stop, the other drivers behind my car might not expect it and they might brake too late and cause a crash. Then I became too subconscious and started to overthink finding the new threshold. 

This is about adjusting to local conditions (and London is more intense than many other parts of the UK).  Running every amber light just because most drivers do so isn't a justification.  Being aware that the driver behind you might not expect you to do the correct thing and brake is part of judging whether it is unsafe to do so.  Which is why you've been advised to be checking your mirrors earlier - if you know the idiot behind is already too close/on the phone then running the light is preferable to being rear-ended.