Increase in drivers RLJing ?

[gbb]

Definately seeing it here and i guess as people try to squeeze the maximum fuel economy out of their car , it'll not get any better.
2 sets of TLs in my estate and i've noticed cars sqeezing over even as the opposing lights are turning green, its happening almost every change of phase (when i'm there anyway)

Reminder to self (and everyone else)...beware and be careful.

 

[2Loose]

I have seen quite a few recently, also less mobile use.

I really doubt it is because people are consciously saving a few pence in petrol while stopping though...saying that, best possible theory of cause that I have heard so far!

 

[gbb]

I have seen quite a few recently, also less mobile use.

I really doubt it is because people are consciously saving a few pence in petrol while stopping though...saying that, best possible theory of cause that I have heard so far!

Depends on whether they're as conscious of the impact stop starting has on economy as i am.
Cos i'm a tightwad i always drive at the most economical speeds (using the actual fuel consumption on the computer). Everytime you stop, you're going from say 50mpg to tick over, then 15-20 mpg until you've regained that speed. Town driving has a huge impact on my cars economy. Its got to the stage where i hate traffic lights (even more so the ones that stop you when there's no reason !!!)
It's really not a good thing for your enjoyment of driving all this analysing

Of course, i could be wrong. Nevertheless, RLJing is very prevelent at the moment around here.

 

[Lien Sdrawde]

Couldn't agree more - though near me (Mc/r) its been this way for 6 months or so. It used to be 'orange light jumpers' that would chance it in case there weren't any boys in blue knocking about - but alas, their number has dwindled, and red is now not too much of a concern for the chancers.....

even if you kill someone at a red light and go to jail, you can spend your time on (a) the pool table, (b) the playstation, (c) taking pretty much any drug of your choice, (d) eating better food than you could afford on the outside.

Bet you dont know what a 'wing plugger' is? - hey, where's my Blackberry gone. Liberty for all those RLJ's who maim is human rights dude. Bitter - not me, I drink water.

 

[Red Light]

Depends on whether they're as conscious of the impact stop starting has on economy as i am.

Judging my the numbers still driving Toyota and Nissan trucks and Range Rovers, fuel economy is not a problem yet.

 

[Tynan]

defo, I really notice it, not even acclerating to get there, just driving straight though like they're still green, it's routine at some lights I stop at now

 

[davefb]

Judging my the numbers still driving Toyota and Nissan trucks and Range Rovers, fuel economy is not a problem yet.

indeed..

i think i'm a bit lead footed, but it amazes me the way drivers accel and brake and weave on the motorway...... but i'll bet they're the first to moan about petrol prices..

( got 25% better mpg by being feather footed, boring, difficult, but hey 25% better , just wish it wasnt so far and i'd be spending nothing on fuel )

 

[Alan Whicker]

Red lights are now largely optional in East London. Bow, Leyton, Stratford and Crackney are particular hotspots. Why stop if there's practically zero chance of getting caught and you can get to your destination 6 minutes quicker?

 

[henshaw11]

Definitely seeing more of it in sw London/N Surrey.

Latest example - I stop at lights in centre of town (Walton-On-Thames), mebbe doing 15 mph on approach. Red car shoots through in neighbouring lane - *well* into the red showing.

I filter past a long queue further along the road, mostly maintain traffic speed but I'm in secondary, wide road so room to pass. Near next lights (8+ cars lengths away from the queue of 4 cars I guess) I make sure I'm in primary 'cos I can see driver of car behind wondering about overtaking - a pass at that point mean him standing on brakes if he overtakes, and a hurried downshift/brake for me. I get a couple of toots on the horn, presumably 'cos I'm in 'his' way. I ignore him, the idiot turns off left anyway. Oh, and it's the moron that seemed to have trouble with understanding lights earlier...

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

I went through a red yesterday in the car – giving a friend a lift home early evening, light traffic. Dual carriageway, 2 lanes in each direction, i’m in the left hand lane - Ped crossing up ahead – lights turned to red so I stopped – I’m lead car on left – car pulls up behind and one to the right – couple cross the road and as they step off the road onto the pavement i drive on – everyone else stays stationary – took me a while to realise it wasn’t a zebra crossing!

 

[Sheepy1209]

This has been going on for years in Blackpool and just gets worse - I would say a higher proportion of drivers RLJ here than do cyclists.
There are some junctions where I can pretty much guarantee somebody will jump the red - even if say 50% of drivers at that junction RLJ, and assuming it's a random sample, it suggests to me that 50% of drivers in general are prepared to RLJ.

Nothing to do with fuel economy, everything to do with selfishness, arrogance, and the knowledge they'll get away with it (there are no traffic light cameras in Blackpool as far as I know).

It seems to me that it correlates with the clampdown on speeding - Blackpool has one of the highest concentrations of fixed cameras in the country. It's almost as if drivers think it's justified to RLJ because it somehow makes up time.

It's useful at those junctions where you're waiting on red and can't see the opposing lights. You know they've gone to amber or red because there'll be a couple of cars which come through at a higher speed and / or mere inches from the car in front.

Given how endemic it is here I'm surprised it seems to be a new phenomenon in other parts of the country.

I've just got myself a camcorder for the bike, I'll collect a few samples - shouldn't take long!