Red Light Jumping - epidemic?
Discussion
It might be just coincidence, but I have been commuting from home near J2 of the M40 to Sunny Tooting Broadway recently, and I have been astounded by the upsurge in red light jumping. Almost every red light has at least a couple of close-to-red-but-still-on-amber jumpers, and at least one blatant turned-red-before-the-white-line offenders. With some modern cars getting off the line like Schumacher with launch control I am surprised there aren't more collisions. For my part, I would welcome more traffic light cameras instead of the ubiquitous Gatsos.
What say the PH collective?
What say the PH collective?
The biggest edpidemic we have is the parabolic explosion of cameras. We now have speed cameras, red light cameras, bus lane cameras, street cameras, congestion charge cameras, facial recogntion cameras, shop cameras...God can I stop now before my blood pressure goes up any further.
The UK has by far and away the most amount of CCTV and other cameras per square mile in the world.
When is this madness going to end ?
...and you want even more cameras...Sheesh.
>> Edited by Hilts on Saturday 12th March 17:23
The UK has by far and away the most amount of CCTV and other cameras per square mile in the world.
When is this madness going to end ?
...and you want even more cameras...Sheesh.
>> Edited by Hilts on Saturday 12th March 17:23
medicineman said:Er, I don't recommend left turns on red in the USA
How about red light cameras but traffic lights that at night go to flashing amber indicating give way rather than stop (as per continent) while we are at it can we have left turn gives way on red like Oz and USA?
- Streakystreaky said:
How about red light cameras but traffic lights that at night go to flashing amber indicating give way rather than stop (as per continent) while we are at it can we have left turn gives way on red like Oz and USA?
Er, I don't recommend left turns on red in the USA
Unless you are in San Francisco and you are turning into a one way street. Sorry Streaky bit of local knowledge there.
FiF
Mixed feelings about RLCs.
OK but the amber duration timing and the trigger finger of the RLC have to be matched to the limit for the road in question.
For a couple of years at some local lights on an NSL dual we had a RLC with hair trigger. Not kidding slowly roll over the white line by less than half a car length and it used to fire even if you stopped.
Couple that with athe speed limit of 70mph and an amber time of only 2.3 seconds and as you can guess there were plenty of tears shed.
OK imho anyone who approached the lights at 70 needed their head examining but work out the time it takes you to stop from a more reasonable 50.
In case you can't be bothered it is 2.9s assuming 0.9g retardation i.e. almost emergency stop for most cars, and thinking time of 0.4s. I hear you ask 0.4 seconds bit short that, well you HAD noticed that the light had been green for some time and were splitting your vision to include close observation of the possible light change weren't you?
To stop in less than 2.3 you have to be at less than 40.
Take a look at www.safespeed.org.uk/braking.html if you don't believe me.
On the question of flashing ambers during quiet times. Not a good experience of these in USA as it seems to be an invitation to blat across on the assumption. Personally prefer flashing reds, which turns the crossing into a 4-way stop. Every vehicle MUST stop and then you all go in turn. Even works in redneck country which says something I believe.
Cheers all
FiF
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Sunday 13th March 10:19
OK but the amber duration timing and the trigger finger of the RLC have to be matched to the limit for the road in question.
For a couple of years at some local lights on an NSL dual we had a RLC with hair trigger. Not kidding slowly roll over the white line by less than half a car length and it used to fire even if you stopped.
Couple that with athe speed limit of 70mph and an amber time of only 2.3 seconds and as you can guess there were plenty of tears shed.
OK imho anyone who approached the lights at 70 needed their head examining but work out the time it takes you to stop from a more reasonable 50.
In case you can't be bothered it is 2.9s assuming 0.9g retardation i.e. almost emergency stop for most cars, and thinking time of 0.4s. I hear you ask 0.4 seconds bit short that, well you HAD noticed that the light had been green for some time and were splitting your vision to include close observation of the possible light change weren't you?
To stop in less than 2.3 you have to be at less than 40.
Take a look at www.safespeed.org.uk/braking.html if you don't believe me.
On the question of flashing ambers during quiet times. Not a good experience of these in USA as it seems to be an invitation to blat across on the assumption. Personally prefer flashing reds, which turns the crossing into a 4-way stop. Every vehicle MUST stop and then you all go in turn. Even works in redneck country which says something I believe.
Cheers all
FiF
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Sunday 13th March 10:19
winnebago nut said:
Could they make them work on bicycles as well . Atb Derek
In Northamptonshire they do
www.northants.police.uk/default.asp?action=article&ID=2123
MR2Mike said:
Red light cameras are fine by me, the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. Unlike certain truck drivers I can just about manage to hold myself back from jumping red lights
I knew I`d get shot down!
However, I`d define "jumping" as running at speed. I thought I`d made it clear that I consider it safe to cross a clear junction when there is good vision in the early hours FROM A STANDING START. i.e treat it as a "Stop" sign.
Flat in Fifth said:FiF - try making a left turn from Van Ness into Pine
medicineman said:
How about red light cameras but traffic lights that at night go to flashing amber indicating give way rather than stop (as per continent) while we are at it can we have left turn gives way on red like Oz and USA?
Er, I don't recommend left turns on red in the USA
Unless you are in San Francisco and you are turning into a one way street. Sorry Streaky bit of local knowledge there.
FiF
. You can turn left on red from a one-way street in other US cities too - but the permission is usually posted to avoid confusion. I can't recall seeing any such postings in SF.
BTW - in Melbourne (Aus) you turn right from the left hand lane at traffic signals in the city centre.
Streaky (displaying some local knowledge too
) PS - I presume you meant the San Francisco in CA, and not one of those in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas or (even) Puerto Rico
.towman said:
I knew I`d get shot down!
However, I`d define "jumping" as running at speed. I thought I`d made it clear that I consider it safe to cross a clear junction when there is good vision in the early hours FROM A STANDING START. i.e treat it as a "Stop" sign.
Well, I'd define "speeding" as driving too fast for the conditions, but the law dosen't take my point of view, and neither does it take yours!
HGV's aren't exactly quick from a standing start if laden, and take a considerable time to roll across a junction. If something does come hurtling through, it dosen't take much to work out that you'd be the winner.
Rather than simply just nabbing all offenders with NIPs, it would be nice to know WHY people feel the need to do this.
Local knowledge plays a part, if you know that you've got a 5min wait until the next green light, many will be tempted to go though a red. You see the same thing a temporary road work lights and at level crossings.
Local knowledge plays a part, if you know that you've got a 5min wait until the next green light, many will be tempted to go though a red. You see the same thing a temporary road work lights and at level crossings.
MR2Mike said:
Well, I'd define "speeding" as driving too fast for the conditions, but the law dosen't take my point of view, and neither does it take yours!
I don`t expect it to.
MR2Mike said:
HGV's aren't exactly quick from a standing start if laden, and take a considerable time to roll across a junction.
Many not all
MR2Mike said:
If something does come hurtling through, it dosen't take much to work out that you'd be the winner.
That`s why I stop and proceed with caution.
Mike - this isn`t something that happens at every red light. I am referring to some on a regular route which are not controlled by an induction loop and take ages to change. They also have excellent visibility to either side of the junction.
Steve
towman said:
HGV's aren't exactly quick from a standing start if laden, and take a considerable time to roll across a junction.
Many not all
Some tractor units when unhitched ought to have the same moniker as the Scooby Impreza ..... FQ!
Seem to recall when this was admitted previously towman was referring to being in his car, possibly observed by b-i-b who actually exercised discretion, to make a neat Radio 2 type link to another thread.
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