Running Red Lights

[Mr Light]

In the town I live in, people drive like maniacs. Every drive is a adventure of near death and collision! Maybe it's because we're a couple hours from NYC, I dunno. They never actually STOP at a stop sign, they just roll it, pausing briefly. And at a 4 way stop you better believe they don't wait their turn. And I see people buzz right through red traffic lights all the time.

Now me, I never do this. I always come to a (brief) complete stop at a stop sign. I never run a red light. Hell, I usually don't even run a yellow!

Also I never drive more than 5 over the speed limit. I've gotten a speeding ticket once and I do not look forward to getting another!

How do you drive?

 

[TheLonelySquire]

Safer than I used to. Especially with my daughter in the car.

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm sick and tired of red-light runners. They're a meanace to society. If MY light in the cross-lane is green, and YOU'RE in the intersection, you're an ASSHOLE.

 

[SeerSGB]

Safer than I used to. Especially with my daughter in the car.

Pretty much me. I look back on how I used to drive before I got married...shit it's a miracle I'm not dead 5 times over.

I'm not going to lie, it was fun. Take a tricked out big block on a piece of curvy two-lane mountain blacktop on a downgrade and just jam your foot into gas and don't let up till you hit the bottom or a tree, it's a good solid thrill. And I used to wait till it was pouring rain and go out just to take the ridge in the rain doing about 80 or 90 or more.

 

[RoJoHen]

I believe in being an assertive driver (none of this offensive or defensive garbage). I will only run a red light if it changes too quickly for me to safely stop without squealing my tires or swerving around. Usually it's not really blowing a red light so much as the yellow light turns red while I'm in the middle of the intersection.

I actually had to completely blow a red light the other day. The light turned yellow, and I hit the brakes, but for some reason there was something on the road (oil or something) and I started swerving around like I was driving on a sheet of ice. It came out of nowhere, and I knew the only way to control my car was let off the brake and keep driving. It resulted in me blowing through the red light, but at least I didn't hit anything.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I go the speed limit about 95% of the time when driving. If I am going down hill, I don't ride my breaks, so the car speeds up. I'll go faster (but not much) if I truly have to be somewhere at a certain time.

I've never ran a red light purposely; just not something I do. I almost got killed by a big rige driver who ran a red light.

 

[Trekker4747]

I believe in being an assertive driver (none of this offensive or defensive garbage). I will only run a red light if it changes too quickly for me to safely stop without squealing my tires or swerving around. Usually it's not really blowing a red light so much as the yellow light turns red while I'm in the middle of the intersection.

I actually had to completely blow a red light the other day. The light turned yellow, and I hit the brakes, but for some reason there was something on the road (oil or something) and I started swerving around like I was driving on a sheet of ice. It came out of nowhere, and I knew the only way to control my car was let off the brake and keep driving. It resulted in me blowing through the red light, but at least I didn't hit anything.

If they light changes from yellow to red while you're in the middle of the intersection, you're good. (I believe the standard cops use is that if your rear tires are behind the stop-line when the light changes to red then you "ran" the light.)

But in my "studies" I've noticed that it takes about six seconds for the light to change to yellow, then to red, and then for the cross-lane's light to turn green (most lights I've seen have reds in both directions for a second or two overlap.)

The time between the light turning yellow and when the light turns red is more than enough time for a car to stop. People run red lights because they're either a)too stupid to think their actions could kill someone they're too self-centered to realize that their actions are dangerous and reckless [c] they're on the goddam phone.

 

[CorporalClegg]

I'm slow and steady all the way. I never run red lights, and almost always stop for yellow ones. I always drive the speed limit, and always use my blinker when changing lanes.

My uncle says I drive like an old woman. What the fuck does he know?

 

[Lindley]

But in my "studies" I've noticed that it takes about six seconds for the light to change to yellow, then to red, and then for the cross-lane's light to turn green (most lights I've seen have reds in both directions for a second or two overlap.)

Depends on where you are. Here in Fairfax, most yellows are about six seconds long, so if you accelerate at them you have a pretty good chance of getting through.

However, up in Baltimore it's a different story. Most lights there seem to be closer to two seconds. So when I'm up there, I slow down on yellows immediately.

 

[Trekker4747]

But in my "studies" I've noticed that it takes about six seconds for the light to change to yellow, then to red, and then for the cross-lane's light to turn green (most lights I've seen have reds in both directions for a second or two overlap.)

Depends on where you are. Here in Fairfax, most yellows are about six seconds long, so if you accelerate at them you have a pretty good chance of getting through.

However, up in Baltimore it's a different story. Most lights there seem to be closer to two seconds. So when I'm up there, I slow down on yellows immediately.

Looking at my notes here [yes] around here on average the yellow is 3 seconds long and the "double red" is two seconds long. Five seconds. More than enough time for someone to come to a stop from typical road speeds.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Over here the length of the yellow light varies from the time of the day (maybe a tactic used to catch people during rush hours where there might be more cops on patrol). And even then, once red, it all lights will stay red for about three seconds (since people generally run the red lights here), to make sure the intersection is clear.

 

[CorporalClegg]

On a side note, some have theorized that if the right technology was implemented on all traffic lights in the US, the average daily work commute would be reduced by as much as ten minutes. It would also greatly reduce fuel consumption.

The ironic thing is, it would require an increase in municipal and state tax country wide. People panic at the idea of a tax hike, but they'd most likely save money in the long run--never mind an extra hour of their time a week.

 

[P0sitr0nic]

I dont drive.

 

[Trekker4747]

On a side note, some have theorized that if the right technology was implemented on all traffic lights in the US, the average daily work commute would be reduced by as much as ten minutes. It would also greatly reduce fuel consumption.

Wow! I'd get to work instantly! Hell, I'd get there two minutes before I left! Obviously your area has discovered how to either bend space or let cars do FTL travel.

Over here the length of the yellow light varies from the time of the day (maybe a tactic used to catch people during rush hours where there might be more cops on patrol). And even then, once red, it all lights will stay red for about three seconds (since people generally run the red lights here), to make sure the intersection is clear.

[emphasis mine]

Which means that if someone is in the intersection when the cross-lane gets the green that person is an asshole who had more than enough time to stop.



Wh

 

[Kirby]

On a side note, some have theorized that if the right technology was implemented on all traffic lights in the US, the average daily work commute would be reduced by as much as ten minutes. It would also greatly reduce fuel consumption.

That's the theory, but it doesn't take into account people. Even if the technology is perfect, people will still screw it up by running lights, making bad turns, cutting across multiple lanes to make their exit, etc...

I think about the same type of driver as before, pretty safe but I do speed if I'm on the highway. You can tell when the economy is bad because of all the traffic cops out there. Someone at work was pulled over this week because she was doing 4 miles over the limit in a 45 mph zone. She showed me the ticket, I couldn't believe it. She has to pay a $74 fine.

 

[T'Bonz]

Where I live, the vast majority run the red. If you don't, odds are someone will rear-end you. And never, ever, go immediately when your light turns green, or you'll be t-boned.

I automatically wait a few seconds to go when the light is green. Down here, that is never a problem, but when I unthinkingly did that up north a few years ago, I was immediately honked at.

Down here, if you go when that light first changes, you're dead.

 

[Trekker4747]

Where I live, the vast majority run the red. If you don't, odds are someone will rear-end you. And never, ever, go immediately when your light turns green, or you'll be t-boned.

They can t-bone me. Then I'll sue thier ass for every dime they have.

 

[Mr Light]

At the risk of asking you to divulge personal information, what town is that Bonzie?! Yikes!

 

[Trekker4747]

At the risk of asking you to divulge personal information, what town is that Bonzie?! Yikes!

She lives somewhere in Florida where the proposed state flag is a steering-wheel with a hat and two knuckles on it.

 

[T'Bonz]

Where I live, the vast majority run the red. If you don't, odds are someone will rear-end you. And never, ever, go immediately when your light turns green, or you'll be t-boned.

They can t-bone me. Then I'll sue thier ass for every dime they have.

Hard to do when you're dead.

*

Ft. Lauderdale suburbs. Typical for my county, Miami-Dade (City of Miami) and Palm Beach County (City of West Palm Beach.)