What foreign motoring things would you bring here?
What foreign motoring things would you bring here?
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Discussion

Kermit power

Original Poster:

29,622 posts

244 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
quotequote all
I tend to find that when I get insomnia, the best thing I can do is go to the gym, which is open 24/7.

Just before I get here, there's a set of traffic lights where I turn left into the car park. They take bloody ages to rotate through the two way crossing plus pedestrian phase, and of course at 4am there's never anybody around!

If this was in the States, I'd be able to proceed slowly through a left hand turn on red. If it was in France it would probably be on flashing orange from midnight to 5am or thereabouts, but here it's a choice of breaking the law or sitting at a red light for no good reason.

Are there any other traffic things done better overseas?

M11rph

1,175 posts

52 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
quotequote all
Roadworks.

In Spain if the signs are up and speed restrictions are in place then there will be work actively taking place. When they stop the restrictions are removed.

UK, cones out. Retrieve some months or years later.

LooneyTunes

9,490 posts

189 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Lane discipline.

Proper “zip” merges at roadworks where both lanes have to change position.

csd19

2,344 posts

148 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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LooneyTunes said:
Lane discipline.

Proper “zip” merges at roadworks where both lanes have to change position.
If only.

You'd no doubt still have some road captain wkstain trying to block a legitimate merge, regardless of the layout. Maybe stationing a trafpol at the merge would help to bring them clarity...

anonymous-user

85 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Christmas guys, this is PH. We don't want none of yer foreign muck over 'ere. smile

AndySheff

6,935 posts

238 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Road sensors for traffic lights. If you approach a red and there's no other traffic, light goes green before you get there.

vikingaero

13,500 posts

200 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Drivers level mini traffic lights on the main traffic light poles that the Frenchies have.

Japanese sex dolls that double as passengers for High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (the few that we have in the UK)

Gad-Westy

16,635 posts

244 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
Drivers level mini traffic lights on the main traffic light poles that the Frenchies have.
I quite like the countdown to green timers on traffic lights as well. Especially on temporary road works. It offers assurance that they aren’t stuck on red.

Pueblo

39 posts

37 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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In Russia a green traffic light will start to flash a few times before changing up to red to let you know what is about to happen.
Great idea IMO

kambites

71,645 posts

252 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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AndySheff said:
Road sensors for traffic lights. If you approach a red and there's no other traffic, light goes green before you get there.
Lots of the lights around here (Hampshire) have this.

I think given the current state of the automotive market, I'd say "driving on the righthand side of the road" and "using sensible units for speeds and distances". Both would be expensive changes though.

If we're counting attitude changes as well as legal ones, I'd say tolerance and patience would give the biggest overall improvement to the pleasure of using the roads, followed by using indicators properly and good lane discipline (although I'm not certain if anywhere really has the indicators one).

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 5th March 07:34

Whataguy

1,147 posts

111 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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The Spanish speed allowance for safe overtaking.

You are allowed to exceed the speed limit by 15/20mph while overtaking. Lets you get past quickly and increases safety.

Also the flashing orange lights on crossings when you take care during quiet periods and don’t require the lights to be fully working.

Also the Spanish positive driving attitude without aggression - everyone is driving hard and fast to get to their destination but they don’t hold people up by blocking you and will actually let you in if you find you need to change lanes and were in the wrong one.

MustangGT

13,862 posts

311 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Removing the red/amber combination on a traffic light sequence.

WyrleyD

2,349 posts

179 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Turn left on red and French autoroute lane discipline.

paradigital

1,109 posts

183 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Part time signals. I remember when I was driving through Slovakia that after a certain time of day the lights change from sequenced to just flashing amber for "caution". If the junction is clear, you keep going, no stopping unneccessarily during quiet hours.

E63eeeeee...

5,766 posts

80 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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MustangGT said:
Removing the red/amber combination on a traffic light sequence.
How does that help anyone? Having it means you always know what the lights are going to do next, so you can anticipate better.

Mammasaid

5,633 posts

128 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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MustangGT said:
Removing the red/amber combination on a traffic light sequence.
biggrin

wisbech

4,361 posts

152 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Lower England drink driving limit to be same as Scotland

vaud

59,823 posts

186 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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Skid pan training (Denmark IIRC)

RedWhiteMonkey

9,214 posts

213 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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The ability to use the inbuilt clip to hold the fuel pump handle down and let it autoclick off when your tank is full. Seems to be possible in most countries apart from the UK.

StescoG66

2,431 posts

174 months

Tuesday 5th March 2024
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The aforementioned flashing amber lights at off peak times as per France I would say is just common sense. Something we seem to legislatecagainst here in the UK.
Another one I like - from Italy - is dipped beam compulsory even during the day on all roads outwith towns and cities.