When the lights turn green...
Discussion
So you're 2nd in line at the traffic lights, in the left hand lane behind a BMW 318i. There are 2 lanes with a Fiesta in the right hand lane. The lights turn green, and the driver of the BMW in front of me is clearly not watching the lights, as she's rummaging around for something on the back seat.
For some reason the Fiesta alongside the BMW doesn't move either. Presumably thinking if the BMW hasn't gone then their must be a reason for it? Or do they lack confidence in their ability to recognise the green light.
I see this happen quite often, when one car doesn't pull away for whatever reason, the other car will also not move.
The funny thing is, after 3 seconds I beeped the driver in front who then woke up and pulled away slowly. I moved in to the outside lane to overtake and she floored it to stop me getting past. Meanwhile the Fiesta driver behind me is flashing his lights and giving me the V's!
Seems I shouldn't have beeped them, but instead allowed them to wake up naturally.
Is this a rant? I'm not sure. More of an observation.
For some reason the Fiesta alongside the BMW doesn't move either. Presumably thinking if the BMW hasn't gone then their must be a reason for it? Or do they lack confidence in their ability to recognise the green light.
I see this happen quite often, when one car doesn't pull away for whatever reason, the other car will also not move.
The funny thing is, after 3 seconds I beeped the driver in front who then woke up and pulled away slowly. I moved in to the outside lane to overtake and she floored it to stop me getting past. Meanwhile the Fiesta driver behind me is flashing his lights and giving me the V's!
Seems I shouldn't have beeped them, but instead allowed them to wake up naturally.
Is this a rant? I'm not sure. More of an observation.
The other day, I had to beep someone to make them STOP pulling away from the lights infront of me.
I'll save explaining, and just link to this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=addlestone&hl=...
There's lights for right-turn only, and lights for straight on and left. I've lost count of how many times I've seen people almost start pulling off when the lights for right-only turn green, and they're in front of me in the left lane. Because the traffic from the other side crosses our path, it's an accident waiting to happen. I beeped someone the other day who seemed sure he should go. He slammed his brakes on, narrowly missed another car, and put his hand up to thank me.
I'll save explaining, and just link to this:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=addlestone&hl=...
There's lights for right-turn only, and lights for straight on and left. I've lost count of how many times I've seen people almost start pulling off when the lights for right-only turn green, and they're in front of me in the left lane. Because the traffic from the other side crosses our path, it's an accident waiting to happen. I beeped someone the other day who seemed sure he should go. He slammed his brakes on, narrowly missed another car, and put his hand up to thank me.
attym3 said:
I prefer pretending to pull off when the lights are still red, then the car next to you goes to pull off then realizes.....works best in a Transit van. 
Mark
Ha! Just goes to prove these people can't make decisions for themselves, so wait for other people do make it for them.Mark
Have also noticed this, i just think people really arn't paying attention. Many times i am at the lights, it goes green and i pull away and i have crossed the junction and a good 10 meters passed said junction before the car next to me has even reacted. Annoys the hell out of me as the lights in London don't stay green for very long.
mnkiboy said:
Ha! Just goes to prove these people can't make decisions for themselves, so wait for other people do make it for them.
It's not so much that - it's that if you're not looking at the lights on your own side, then when the transit starts moving they block the lights on their side - if you're looking towards them (who just stares at the lights until they change?) then you can't tell that the lights are still red. That one gets people who like to pull away briskly and not hold people up more than the numpties.
GTR Cook said:
Have also noticed this, i just think people really arn't paying attention. Many times i am at the lights, it goes green and i pull away and i have crossed the junction and a good 10 meters passed said junction before the car next to me has even reacted. Annoys the hell out of me as the lights in London don't stay green for very long.
Yep!I've no bloody idea why some people are so slow about pulling away from the lights. I don't mean full on Traffic Light GP (Even though I do enjoy this now and then), just pulling away when the lights go green
5 USA said:
Definition: "New York minute" = the smallest measurable amount of time in the universe.
Approximately equal to the time between a traffic light turning green in New York City and the driver behind you honking his horn.
Generally equates to about 0.0000583 earth minutes.
It's like that in Turkey. When I was there a few years ago, if you didn't move off when the lights were orange then you were beeped at!Approximately equal to the time between a traffic light turning green in New York City and the driver behind you honking his horn.
Generally equates to about 0.0000583 earth minutes.
attym3 said:
I prefer pretending to pull off when the lights are still red, then the car next to you goes to pull off then realizes.....works best in a Transit van.
Mark
I've seen that done before... Mark
Friend following behind a really really bad driver in a Ford Ka, clearky not paying attention. She stops at lights where it splits into 2 lanes, my mate goes into the lane beside her at the lights. She proceeds to faff about with phone. Mate then revs up and does the 'setting off' motion for a couple of feet. Bint then just set right off driving through a red light to the sound of blaring car horns. Not big or clever but it proved a point.
Try driving in Thetford. There is a big crossroads with 4 way traffic lights (i.e. only lets vehicles move in one direction for each phase). Lights turn green, 5 second pause, then the first driver slowly moves off. Another five seconds, then the second driver wakes up and moves off. Then the lights turn back to red. Perhaps folk around here aren't used to traffic lights yet.
attym3 said:
I prefer pretending to pull off when the lights are still red, then the car next to you goes to pull off then realizes.....works best in a Transit van.
Mark
Oh great. So you try to trick them into pulling away whilst the light are red. Good one. Smaaaaart thinking there.Mark
Have you considered that the lights could be red for a reason?
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