Discussion
Coming up to a traffic light controlled crossroads on my way to work this morning, met police car in front. Traffic lights turned red just before we got there. There was no traffic at any of the other lights. Police car puts on its blue lights, crosses under red, switches lights off, and carries on, as you were.
Wot's that about then?
Wot's that about then?
Cynical = Shift change time?
Benefit of doubt = Needs to get promptly to an event as quietly as possible?
I live near a fire station. At night and early morning the engines will often only use their blues and twos briefly at the junctions near the station.
I once observed a bit of dodgy driving from one of the units and thought about complaining to the station officer. Then I rembered what life could be like being woken every night by a fire engine parked outside my bedroom window
Benefit of doubt = Needs to get promptly to an event as quietly as possible?
I live near a fire station. At night and early morning the engines will often only use their blues and twos briefly at the junctions near the station.
I once observed a bit of dodgy driving from one of the units and thought about complaining to the station officer. Then I rembered what life could be like being woken every night by a fire engine parked outside my bedroom window
I saw an ambulance pop its blues on to do a right turn where none is permitted (Marloes Road onto the Cromwell Road, A4). I had priority as a pedestrian crossing just in front of him and obviously held right back to show that I wasn't going t ocross and that he could pass ahead of me. He looked rather sheepish, turned off blues and sat and waited for green.
Intelligent traffic lights would help - going green if they sense vehicles approaching (and none the other way) and where the other way has been on green for a while. It can be done (additionally, in Germany for example) it would be "nice" if lights were switched off where possible outside of busy times. But that would mean reducing control and we know how likely that is. 
Given that compliance for red lights seems to be higher than for speed limits, and given that most people who post on PH would merrily speed but not just a red light, would it be an effective measure to introdce more timed red lights to improve speed limit compliance?
San Francisco's main roads East and West had timed lights at 30mph, which allowed you to drive several miles at the limit without stopping.
San Francisco's main roads East and West had timed lights at 30mph, which allowed you to drive several miles at the limit without stopping.
the a34 in mcr used to be like that not sure now
in fact traffic inspector went on tv to state that as the limit was forty in reasonable traffic you'd hit every set at green if you stuck to forty.
the problem, as all ways, is the ones who dawdle away from the lights would cock the system up/or didn't travel at the speed limit
but i can vouch it did work on occasions
in fact traffic inspector went on tv to state that as the limit was forty in reasonable traffic you'd hit every set at green if you stuck to forty.
the problem, as all ways, is the ones who dawdle away from the lights would cock the system up/or didn't travel at the speed limit
but i can vouch it did work on occasions
deltafox said:
xxplod said:
Don't read too much in to it. Could be a non-urgent but important call. E.g. alarm activation. Doesn't merit a full blues/twos response, but if it was my business I wouldn't want the Police sat at a red light on an empty junction whilst the thieves got away.
^^^ agreed.
I somehow doubt that for my ambulance yesterday.
Of course after putting man on the moon, it would be simple to create traffic lights that were green in one direction until traffic in other directions needed to come through. But we have an institutionally anti-car gubmint, so it's essential that such a system is not implemented. After all, how else would the traffic jams be created? They're necessary to "prove" to us bastards that there are too many cars on the roads and that we must pay more driving tax.
It's a shame that some police think the laws don't apply to them, however...
SM
It's a shame that some police think the laws don't apply to them, however...
SM
He may have been a 'Standard' driver ie not response as I once was I would if the call was urgent or an officer was in trouble, I would use the blue lights to clear a junction and then make good progress.
Also sometimes you take a call and then a unit closer may answer so its lights on and lights off.
A small few BIB do take the micky but not many.
Also sometimes you take a call and then a unit closer may answer so its lights on and lights off.
A small few BIB do take the micky but not many.
When I worked in Banbury, some new traffic lights were installed that the local press claimed had a "Priority" function for the emergency services. Basically, the emergency vehicles carried a transmitter that could turn the lights in their favour as they approached.
Seemed like a good idea to me.
Seemed like a good idea to me.
hallmark said:
When I worked in Banbury, some new traffic lights were installed that the local press claimed had a "Priority" function for the emergency services. Basically, the emergency vehicles carried a transmitter that could turn the lights in their favour as they approached.
Seemed like a good idea to me.
Seemed like a good idea to me.
Had that system in Swansea for a few years - only thing was they didn't fit them to Police/Fire/Ambulances. Oh no they fitted them to buses!!!!!!!!
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