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Every point at which drivers have to make
decisions will eventually lead to a crash. I
suggest that at each intersection with a
stoplight, somebody takes the yellow light
time, the speed limit, and the likelyhood
of various road conditions, and figures out
a threshold distance, with it being
better
to go if the light turns yellow after you
pass it and it being better to stop if it
turns yellow before you pass it. A dotted
line would then be painted at this distance
on all lanes coming towards the stop light.
Measured Yellow Lines
Measured_20Yellow_20Lines
The essence of this Idea has already been on the HalfBakery for a little more than a year. [Vernon, Jul 18 2005]
The UK Highway Code
http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk/16.htm
See Paragraph #151 [jurist, Jul 18 2005]
[link]
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I don't get it. Your link leads to a list of
irrelevant /. articles. |
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[[bdh] In most places, it is not legal to enter the intersection after the light has turned yellow. It's that clear cut. The fact that people often run a yellow light does not mean that it is ever safe or permissible. Expect a consequence. |
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" In most places, it is not legal to enter the
intersection after the light has turned
yellow."
Er... how do you know it's about to turn
yellow. That sounds like complete
nonsense. |
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The key words there, [st3f], are "enter" and "after". |
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Yes, but since my car has a non-zero
stopping
distance there comes a point beyond
which I cannot safely stop. If it were
illegal
to cross a yellow light and there were
no
warning of the light change I would
have to scrub off more and more speed
until I eventually came to a halt at the
line
and wait there until my car rusted. I
would have no way of detemining if the
light would change before I crossed the
line. Zeno's traffic intersection? |
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'Tis a conundrum,indeed, but the UK Highway Code [link] seems to handle it like most other places. Caution rules. |
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"If the amber light appears you may go on
only if you have already crossed the stop
line or are so close to it that to stop might
cause an accident."
Sounds reasonable to me. |
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This idea falls flat due to the hugely different stopping distances that various vehicles have. In the UK, the above rule //If the amber light appears you may go on only if...// also applies to the red light in the case of HGV's which may occasionally not have sufficient warning on amber and have to pass as the light is going red. |
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//HGV's//?
You can argue that with your local constable or bobby or traffic cop, but I doubt you'll win if he decides you were travelling at an unsafe speed or with a lack of caution. Expect a citation. |
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"This idea falls flat due to the hugely
different stopping distances that
various
vehicles have."
(Pedant warning). All vehicles have the
same stopping distance. They just have
it
at different speeds. Although not totally
accurate, an indicator like this would
remind those vehicles with long braking
distances to slow down in case they
have
to stop for the junction. |
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"If you can't brake safely between the
yellow light line and the light you are
going too fast." |
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Sorry, folks. It was late and I must have been in the middle of linking to somewhere else while waiting for an HB page to load. |
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I've had the same idea in days past. Liked it then, like it now. Always assumed that those who would benefit most from it were those most likely to cut you off in traffic when "there's an opening". |
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Aside. A premier law change would be to forbid lane changes inside any intersection, marked or no. |
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At least where I live, lane changes
inside an intersection ARE illegal. |
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Around here you can't pass in an intersection (assumes two-way traffic) but no provision is for lane changes made in traffic that flows through intersections with multiple lanes, although there is a provision that discourages lane changes or braking when approaching a merge lane from access roads. Like most road rules, violating them only works against you if someone screws up in the middle of the test. |
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//A premier law change would be to forbid lane changes inside any intersection//
Except turning left and right? |
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'Round here, (at least on highways), there are flashing lights to let you know the light in the upcoming intersection is going to turn yellow. |
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[Ling]: Believe me, people should not change lanes when turning. I can point to many, many intersections that are configured two lanes each, north, south, east, and west with as many as five left turn lanes and five right turn lanes. I'm sure there are more complicated designs nearby, but I turn at two like that and pass through a half dozen others on my daily commute. Did I say people should not change lanes while turning? Right. |
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Maybe adding more lines to the road would just induce worsened confusion. |
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I agree about the big fast flow intersections. But I was referring to traffic lights, where to turn left or right requires a lane change (I was just being stupid as usual). |
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It's illegal, here, to change lanes on an intersection or within 30 metres either side of one. |
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There's also a light change condition called "stale green", which means the light has been green for a while and you should plan accordingly, that it will soon change to yellow. |
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Do the pedestrian cross walk signals not blink at a short interval before the light changes from green to yellow everywhere? |
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Yeah, [Zimmy], our pedXing light blink as you say. I assert that if you're watching those lights you're trying to think your way through the intersection and in so doing you've reduced your reaction time enough that you are now a lethal missile. Everyone is better off if you're just damn sure the light is green when you're committed to entering an intersection. |
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I did notice that our roads have regularly spaced light poles until you approach an intersection, at which distance the last pole is at about half a regular space before the intersection. It appears that a reasonable stopping distance at the posted 45 MPH would fall within that one and 1/2 space length. Next time I'm at full speed when it's not rush hour I'll be cognizant of the timing of lights and how the traffic flow picks up their cue to slow down. |
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