Which Traffic Signal Would You Prefer?

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dibbons

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In Mexico, we have a four phase signal: green, flashing green, yellow, and red. I believe this is far superior to the green, yellow, red, because when I see the yellow I always go into a near panic: Do I have time to cross the intersection or do I stop now? With the extra warning time (flashing green) it seems like I have an infinite amount of extra time to decide.

How we do it here @ the 24 second mark:


Someone is trying to propose extending the yellow phase in the United States. This still would cause almost the same problem in deciding what to do now. The four-phase signal I believe is far superior and I scratch my head every day asking myself why the United States has not caught on to such a great safety idea.

Someone's supposed "better" idea here (increase 3.2 second yellow phase to 4.5 seconds):
Traffic lights could change around the world thanks to one man's mission
 
anytime I approach an intersection with a green light, I start a mental countdown to "the point of no return"
(this point is 30-40-50 feet before the intersection, depending on the road and speed im traveling)
if the light hits yellow before my countdown hits zero, I stop because I know I have plenty of room to do so, and not enough time to make it across
if I hit zero, and pass the point of no return, I already know that if the light were to change, im not gonna stop anyway


but to answer your question, what I would really like is the traffic light sequence you see in mountainous parts of Europe when it goes "green-yellow-red-yellow-green"

the added yellow before green gives you time to shift into first and release the park brake (since 90% of the cars there are stickshift)
 
Several states have a "protected" left turn and a "yield" left turn, also some have a four aspect system but can't recall exactly what the aspects are right now.
 
Go into a near Panic at a yellow light ...


There is a standard of judgment that everybody should have. When you see a yellow light you should instantly know how ******* far away you are to then decide if you need to slow to a stop or hit the gas.

I got a better idea. Just like parking garages when the light turns red the spikes come up and all the assholes get flat tires
 
If everyone drive the way there supposed to, it would not be an issue and this not even a discussion but since many think there car a hit rod in some way shape or form they also take the nonsense route by human nature to gamble that all yellow lights have the same amount of time built into them, which is not true and often tested with the red light cameras in court where if they are found to be Illuminated For a shorter time than the law writes it for, the driver is found innocent and the charges dismissed. Then the light is corrected.

Drive with your head screwed on people!

In Mexico, we have a four phase signal: green, flashing green, yellow, and red. I believe this is far superior to the green, yellow, red, because when I see the yellow I always go into a near panic: Do I have time to cross the intersection or do I stop now? With the extra warning time (flashing green) it seems like I have an infinite amount of extra time to decide.

How we do it here @ the 24 second mark:


Someone is trying to propose extending the yellow phase in the United States. This still would cause almost the same problem in deciding what to do now. The four-phase signal I believe is far superior and I scratch my head every day asking myself why the United States has not caught on to such a great safety idea.

Someone's supposed "better" idea here (increase 3.2 second yellow phase to 4.5 seconds):
Traffic lights could change around the world thanks to one man's mission
 
IDK, I’ve been driving for 40 years and never had a problem understanding how traffic lights work.

If it turns yellow and you are too close to stop safely, assess the traffic in front of and behind you and accelerate a bit if it’s safe to make it through.

If it turns yellow and you have enough distance to stop safely...just stop.

Honestly, it just isn’t that hard to figure out.
 
Many people never heard the term stale green light. When I first got my class license (CDL) we were told to look down the road at the upcoming signal to see what it was on as we approached. I was taught that by my father who was a truck driver. I can judge what it is going to be most times, and as was said I have a point of no return spot in my mind from driving so long. I'm going to stop these days if I can, because there are to many young girls in a big friggin hurry, who are busy doing something else, other than paying attention. I'll take the three light system. To many confused drivers out there as it is.
 
A number of cities have been sued (Norfolk, VA for one) for "reducing" the amount of time the yellow light stays on at intersections with Red light cameras. The idea was to make more revenue from fines.

Norfolk lost and had to return fine monies from tickets at those intersections. And, they had to increase the time the yellow light stays on.
 
The problem with yellow "it's gonna be red" lights is that MANY LIGHTS HAVE TOO SHORT A YELLOW in relation to the speed limit/ prevailing traffic

Another ***** is these stupid "flashing yellow arrows" in turn lanes. First the meaning of the flashing amber arrow is completely contrary to the meaning of flashing amber in other situations.........caution, but the guy with the yellow should have the right of way........Flashing turn arrow means "you yield." Stupid.

The second problem with flashing arrows is they are used instead of programming the light as they should be........so I get to set there behind the timid gramma and sit there and sit there and si........................
 
Ditto rumble. If you're driving properly, the yellow light ain't an issue.

If it seems short, time it. There are standards for that.
 
At 25mph I am already traveling at ~37fps, Our roads are 12ft per lane. Meaning the car will cover 24ft in ~.65second. Any car. Most drivers haven't even taken their foot off the brake yet.
So all I gotta do is make sure nobody is moving, and nail it.
What I'd kindof like to see is a hesitation between lights; or maybe a flashing yellow, maybe like 3 or 4 flashes before red; or even better might be a green light that climbs up the pole,like a countdown timer. IDK, if it ain't broke.....
 
Stale green is a light that has a red WALK sign on. You know its going to turn yellow soon, then red based on the speed of the street. Its supposed to be times to the speed limit. In LB, we got walk signs that have a countdown timer on them, very nice to gauge when the light will turn. When it counts down to zero, the yellow is seconds behind that. I would kinda like to see the red- yellow -green Christmas tree staging light. It would wake some people up but we always get the A-hole that will blow the red, downshifting 200 feet from the yellow and nailing it.
 
The flashing green light is common in Austria, but very difficult to find anywhere else.
In following countries (sometimes only partially in use): Mexico, Slovenia, Slowakia, Cambodia, Cuba, Canada, Baltic states, Israel, Russia, Turkey.....

In Spain they have combined green/yellow (at same time)

In Austria (all) traffic lights run this way:

red - red/yellow - green - flashing green (4 times) - yellow - red

But I think it is ok and helps estimating Your 'point of no return'; I miss it always, when I'm abroad....
 
There is just NO way to fix stupid, bad, inconsiderate, Incompetent drivers.

I scratch my head over thinking ramp meters are a good idea.
I hit a very short entrance ramp with one on it the other day.
Fortunately it was not turned on.
They still seem to turn them on here only on rainy nights.
Yea, that's when I need to accelerate very rapidly at wrap speed to try and get into traffic. (sarcasm)


Ramp Meters (AKA Stop lights on the interstate)
 
No matter how the lights work there is always the two/three cars that go through after the light is red around here.
50% of red light right turns don't stop at all, and some won't turn right at all on a red light.
Then you got the woman on the phone doing 10-20 miles over the speed limit and not using signals to jump back and forth between lanes where they think traffic might move faster, and the old guy doing 20 under the speed limit in the left lane and won't move over.
Or the the car doing 20 under is the one jumping back and forth in the lanes without using a signal.
Somehow they think they are driving safer by going slower, but going slower than everyone else and not using signals to change lanes makes them more dangerous.
Fun stuff man.:D

I have actually pulled out from my green light and intentionally blocked the people still turning left even though their left arrow has been red for 2-3 cars.
It strands them out in the intersection because everyone else goes at the same time I do.

I had to pull over and listen to the explanation to a cop of why this old man was driving with his right side tires up on the sidewalk passing people at a stop light one day.
He told the cop that McDonalds was the right turn at the light and quits serving breakfast at 10am and if he waited in the traffic he would miss it.:D
Oh yea, he got a ticket alright.
 
Yellow lights are the perfect time to test how my kickdown linkage works...

...never had a problem..
 
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