In The Hood (New Haven), I have had the third car stopped in line pull out across a double yellow line and drive through the red, on multiple occasions.
In The Hood (New Haven), I have had the third car stopped in line pull out across a double yellow line and drive through the red, on multiple occasions.
alfadriver said:So here's a higher question- why are people in such a hurry that they feel the need to run a red light?
The basic drives are: 1) going to work, 2) going back home, 3) going on some kind of errand (short to and the back home- shopping, school, etc), 4) going to an appointment.
I can see the want to get back home asap, but that would cover people doing dumb things between 3-6pm.
I don't know ANYONE who is super happy at work that they want to be there early. Unless you have a clock to make, what's the point of being at work 60 seconds faster?
The rest- what is so important that you can't be 60 seconds later than you already are?
Seems like people think lights last for 10-20 mins, based on how they are so impatient. But most are less than 1 min.
It's kind of like the people who do 80mph, dangerously, to work. You may save 2-3 min, cost you a bunch more fuel, and then create back ups due to your driving that costs others time. If we all just do this together, we will waste less time commuting.
I don't know. But this is why I typically get to work around 630 and leave around 330, so I don't have to deal with nearly as much traffic/asshattery on the way to and from work. I know that's not an option for everyone, but thankfully it is for me.
In reply to thedoc :
I always figure it's more like, "If those people weren't in front of me, I'd be through the light on green! Therefore, I will go through anyway."
alfadriver said:So here's a higher question- why are people in such a hurry that they feel the need to run a red light?
The basic drives are: 1) going to work, 2) going back home, 3) going on some kind of errand (short to and the back home- shopping, school, etc), 4) going to an appointment.
I can see the want to get back home asap, but that would cover people doing dumb things between 3-6pm.
I don't know ANYONE who is super happy at work that they want to be there early. Unless you have a clock to make, what's the point of being at work 60 seconds faster?
The rest- what is so important that you can't be 60 seconds later than you already are?
Seems like people think lights last for 10-20 mins, based on how they are so impatient. But most are less than 1 min.
It's kind of like the people who do 80mph, dangerously, to work. You may save 2-3 min, cost you a bunch more fuel, and then create back ups due to your driving that costs others time. If we all just do this together, we will waste less time commuting.
I leave at 5:30 AM it’s 23 miles away and should take about 27-28 minutes. I have 40 minutes before I’m late. If I’m late it costs me my bonus of about $175.
6 times this year I’ve lost my bonus.
People sit at lights waiting for a different color of Green or drive 15-25 under the speed limit on a one lane no passing zone.
Will I push a red light?
I see it all the time down here in the southern tip of NJ. most of the runners are probably the same folk doing 90 in a 50 zone as they try to make it to work on time. It has gotten to the point that I will hesitate a second or two before going, even then I am looking both ways to make sure they stop
The apprehension of advancing through a fresh green light. Now the rest of you have taste of what we motorcyclists deal with everywhere, all the time. It sucks,
Around here if there are more than a few red light runners, the intersection gets a red light camera. No timing is changed and they put up a couple prominent signs in the block before the camera. The interesting part is that when the number of runners drops significantly the camera is moved to another intersection. But the signs are never taken down!!
School zone speed cameras are interesting too. Start out with one on each end of the school zone on a street. After a while it is reduced to just one and it gets moved from one location to the other every couple months. I watched them move the one for the school in the next block a couple weeks ago. Best part is there hasn't been an actual camera in that box for 1 1/2 years. But it still works, I can see people slow down form the front porch.
Here in S FL I count to 3 and look both ways when light turns green. Not doing that would be suicidal.
I live on a in a 20 MPH school zone and even the buses go by at 50. Everyone on the street signed a petition to have a "traffic calming" survey done by the city. I've been passed by people going 60-70.
Also here, turn signals are rarely used.
I'll be a lone voice of dissent here and say that from my experience, it's really no different than it has been for at least 20 years. It happens, but it's not like everyone is just blatantly and intentionally ignoring all red lights at all times. Much more often than not, it's people trying to "beat" the yellow light. We've all done it, and if you say you haven't, I'll say you're lying. But I don't see it any differently now than it has been.
"Distracted driving" is a concern, but that can lead to running red lights, changing lanes, crossing the center line, rear ending someone, you name it.
And you should check both ways if you're at a red light and it turns green, regardless of any conceived increase in red light running. Just because it turns green doesn't completely absolve you of the duty to make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding.
To be fair, driving today is very different than in my youth. That’s both good and bad.
We are far less likely to die or be seriously injured in an Auto accident today.
However with the massive crowding on the roads of today we are so very often in a “crowd” and it’s ever so easy to point at others transgressions while ignoring our own.
Last night I figured out how to make this work to my (our) advantage. I have a stoplight that is just before an on ramp to the highway I take on my evening commute. I had a slow poke in the right hand lane, an aggressive driver in the left. Just by the way the lefty was driving, I knew he was going to run the red light. That sucker was bright red and he just zipped right across the intersection. I grabbed his spot and was able to get in front of the slow poke. I unleashed the fury of my super charged focus svt and was ahead of everyone.
It won't always be the case, and maybe you all are better drivers than me, (that isn't saying much). But this could be like looking for a rabbit on the highway.
Klayfish said:I'll be a lone voice of dissent here and say that from my experience, it's really no different than it has been for at least 20 years. It happens, but it's not like everyone is just blatantly and intentionally ignoring all red lights at all times. Much more often than not, it's people trying to "beat" the yellow light. We've all done it, and if you say you haven't, I'll say you're lying. But I don't see it any differently now than it has been.
"Distracted driving" is a concern, but that can lead to running red lights, changing lanes, crossing the center line, rear ending someone, you name it.
And you should check both ways if you're at a red light and it turns green, regardless of any conceived increase in red light running. Just because it turns green doesn't completely absolve you of the duty to make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding.
no, it has gotten worse. As has the fact that people have been hugging the right line in their lanes now for over 15 years. That started about 15 years ago and when it suddenly started happening, I had to ask what they were teaching in Driver's ed.
Klayfish said:I'll be a lone voice of dissent here and say that from my experience, it's really no different than it has been for at least 20 years. It happens, but it's not like everyone is just blatantly and intentionally ignoring all red lights at all times. Much more often than not, it's people trying to "beat" the yellow light. We've all done it, and if you say you haven't, I'll say you're lying. But I don't see it any differently now than it has been.
"Distracted driving" is a concern, but that can lead to running red lights, changing lanes, crossing the center line, rear ending someone, you name it.
And you should check both ways if you're at a red light and it turns green, regardless of any conceived increase in red light running. Just because it turns green doesn't completely absolve you of the duty to make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding.
Disagree. Just yesterday on the way home from work, light goes yellow, I begin to slow down. The Ford Expedition that was BEHIND me in the next lane just keeps their foot in it and goes.
That's also why I brought up just my experience in OKC vs Tulsa. Two cities in the same state 105 miles away from each other via the Turnpike. I grew up in Tulsa, went to school in Stillwater, now in OKC after having been back in Tulsa after school.
There are different differences in how people drive. OKC people run red lights 10 to 1 in Tulsa. Tulsa folks, however, still haven't learned to get anywhere near close to highway speed when entering a highway.
I don't think red light running has gotten too bad around here (Central PA) from what I have noticed, but driving in general has definitely gone way down hill. I've had at least 4 people that I can count nearly hit me head on because they were half way or more into my lane over a blind hill or turn, 3 100% not at fault accidents in the last 4 years after zero in the previous 8 years of my driving career, people making erratic maneuvers (random U turn on an empty country road, for example) without even remotely attempting to signal their intentions, had a dude last week cross a double yellow to pass me and 3 other cars IN A berkeleyING SCHOOL ZONE only to proceed on down the road doing the speed limit (serious WTF moment.) I could go on ad nauseam.
I think a number of factors are to blame and I honestly don't think it's going to get better, at least until the robots take over.
Like I said, just going on what I see. Nor am I saying it doesn't happen, it undeniably does. We've all seen stupid things on the road, and we've all done them. However, if I had to rank red light running as far as causes of accidents, it doesn't break the top 3 or 4...not even close. Been that way for a long, long time. My opinion is that while it happens, it's no worse than it used to be...except that as pointed out before there are so many more cars on the road...so more people speed, more run red lights, more change lanes, etc...just a numbers thing.
In reply to Klayfish : America has it so easy compared to the rest of the world. Places where red lights are mere suggestions or not even that.
i happen to agree with you completely that Red light running isn’t in the top 4 of reasons for accidents.
Just this morning I ran a red light with a lot of children on the bus. School busses are required to do a number of things to cross Railroad tracks.
Light turned Green and I stopped at the crossing with my 4 way flashers on. Opened my window turned off the fans, radio, quieted the children, opened the door, looked left looked right repeated, closed the door and started across. Light turned Yellow and then red before I was able to clear the crossing and intersection.
Fans went back on, radio ( 2 way radio not AM FM ) back on, window closed, 4 way flashers turned off.
You simply cannot do it any faster and still conform to the law but that was one bus through the intersection with 3 stacked up behind me.
Each bus takes one light. There are over 30 busses going into that particular school.
Remember 5 minutes late and the bus is reported. Not to mention all the parents trying to drop their kid off.
So parents run the red, bus drivers run the red, and more than a few parents run a red railroad crossing gate.
and how many Fast and the Furious movies are we up to now ?
Passing on the right in the parking lanes , using the Freeway as a video game as they change lanes 20mph over the speed everyone is driving , Little Japanese cars with 250HP stock and drivers who never took drivers training and are texting ,
10 years ago a good friend of ours crashed on the way to Bonniville getting out of the way of someone passing slower cars , he is paralyzed now , After something like this happens to someone you personally know it slows you down !
I really try and watch out for idiots , its hard work as there are so many these days !
Be safe
In reply to frenchyd :
I haven't traveled abroad much, but from what I hear you're absolutely right. Red lights in other parts of the world are optional at all times.
You're driving a school bus, I have admiration and empathy for you!
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