Red Light

[snorri]

Stopping at red lights in the middle of the night when traffic levels are low to non-existent is just daft. I know it's the law in this country, but really it doesn't make sense to have the same rules in effect 24 hours a day.
I have noticed in mainland Europe traffic lights switching to a constantly flashing amber when traffic levels are low so that road users are alerted to the road junction and they just deal with it as they would junctions without traffic lights.
This must be good for the environment, the less stop start driving the better, and good for journey times.

 

[lulubel]

I have noticed in mainland Europe traffic lights switching to a constantly flashing amber when traffic levels are low so that road users are alerted to the road junction and they just deal with it as they would junctions without traffic lights.
This must be good for the environment, the less stop start driving the better, and good for journey times.

We have some of those around here. In my opinion, they're also good because they encourage drivers to think for themselves, rather than just going round in a mindless daze.

 

[Rob3rt]

Unless the light is faulty then you are obliged to stop, don't be a cock!

 

[BSRU]

No matter what speed I approach a red light I tend to find that putting my left foot down on the floor causes the lights to change

 

[Paddygt]

Unless you're a pedestrian. Or a horse rider, possibly (not sure). Or a roller skater. Or a cyclist who is pushing his bike (not not one who is scooting it with a foot on the pedal). What if you're in a pram? A wheelchair? A class 3 mobility scooter?

I would say that if they are walking along a roadway, pushing a pram along a roadway roller skating along a roadway approaching traffic lights then they have issues beyond this discussion. Horses, mobility scooters etc , as far as I know have to comply with the Highway Code as should all road users

 

[numbnuts]

Whatever next motorist allowed to use mobile phone early in the mornings as there is no one about

 

[Boris Bajic]

I am traffic Red means stop.

I am a cook. Red means a finger tip in the Carbonara.

Sadly, I write from slightly stinging experience.

We ate it anyway.

 

[MontyVeda]

there's one red light in Lancaster which, if you wait for it to go green 'off peak', you'll be there all night as it's operated by a ped crossing round the corner. I could dismount and use the pedestrian crossing, but it's easier to just ignore the light. If we all obeyed the rules all of the time, Luke Skywalker would never have fought the evil Empire!

 

[4F]

there's one red light in Lancaster which, if you wait for it to go green 'off peak', you'll be there all night as it's operated by a ped crossing round the corner. I could dismount and use the pedestrian crossing, but it's easier to just ignore the light. If we all obeyed the rules all of the time, Luke Skywalker would never have fought the evil Empire!

Aaaah but then I would consider that light to be faulty which would mean that you can ride though it proceeding with care, feel the force Luke.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

There's a light in Ipswich HERE (that's not me with the fabric willy on a BSO) that quite simply will not change if there's a cyclist at the front of the queue. I have sat there and watched the all other combinations of lights change five or six times and still no change. There was no traffic anywhere other than the impressive queue that had built up behind me, so after another few light-cycles that ignored my existence I did something I never do; I jumped the red light to save myself getting a thick ear from the drivers behind. In future I'll get off my bike and become a pedestrian for the few moments it takes me to walk to to the side of the road.

Surely lights that require a big metal box to convince them to change are impossible logic?

 

[HLaB]

There's a light in Ipswich HERE (that's not me with the fabric willy on a BSO) that quite simply will not change if there's a cyclist at the front of the queue. I have sat there and watched the all other combinations of lights change five or six times and still no change. There was no traffic anywhere other than the impressive queue that had built up behind me, so after another few light-cycles that ignored my existence I did something I never do; I jumped the red light to save myself getting a thick ear from the drivers behind. In future I'll get off my bike and become a pedestrian for the few moments it takes me to walk to to the side of the road.

Surely lights that require a big metal box to convince them to change are impossible logic?

Its hard to tell but it looks like St Margarets Green (maybe an ironic name) has a microwave detector and the south arm has an induction loop in the ground for the right turn and the straight ahead will probably be linked into a scoot or mova system. If its the right you are havung troubles with try approaching over the the middle of that loop, if you are still having problems contact the council and suggest they up the sensitivity as its a 'key' cycle route. I quite like commuting on my heavy steel SS as it sets of every sensor

 

[compo]

There's a light in Ipswich HERE (that's not me with the fabric willy on a BSO) that quite simply will not change if there's a cyclist at the front of the queue. I have sat there and watched the all other combinations of lights change five or six times and still no change. There was no traffic anywhere other than the impressive queue that had built up behind me, so after another few light-cycles that ignored my existence I did something I never do; I jumped the red light to save myself getting a thick ear from the drivers behind. In future I'll get off my bike and become a pedestrian for the few moments it takes me to walk to to the side of the road.

Surely lights that require a big metal box to convince them to change are impossible logic?

The lights at the Yarmouth Road/London Road junction never used to change if I was at the head of the queue on a motorbike. I complained to the council and they got them adjusted and solved the problem.

 

[Drago]

Obey the law. It's all that seperates us from the animals. And Gerard Depardieu.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

No matter what speed I approach a red light I tend to find that putting my left foot down on the floor causes the lights to change

To add balance, whenever I approach a green light it turns to red and I put my right foot down.

 

[mattobrien]

Its hard to tell but it looks like St Margarets Green (maybe an ironic name) has a microwave detector and the south arm has an induction loop in the ground for the right turn and the straight ahead will probably be linked into a scoot or mova system. If its the right you are havung troubles with try approaching over the the middle of that loop, if you are still having problems contact the council and suggest they up the sensitivity as its a 'key' cycle route. I quite like commuting on my heavy steel SS as it sets of every sensor

Your knowledge of Ipswich and it's traffic control systems is impressive and most likely unrivalled. Chapeau.

Fortunately for me I live near what i consider to be the best lights in the town, every town needs one redeeming feature and Ipswich's is this particular set of four way traffic lights.

They are radar / motion sensor operated and will pick up a car or cyclist from quite a distance. During quiet periods, it is possible for them to turn red and then back to green ready for safe and unimpeded passage without the need to slow.