Running Red Lights... Why?

• 

  silverrat23 on 12/09/2017 - 00:11

  +5

  Because once you hit a red light, you'll hit all red lights down the road.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 00:19

    pretty much.

    • 

      afoveht on 12/09/2017 - 00:24

      -2

      No. After your first red you then get a green (at the same spot) as the very next signal. If the signals ahead are smart enough to follow precedence you should get a run of greens. (Unless you think there is some malicious plot to annoy particular drivers.)

      • 

        coco1458 on 12/09/2017 - 00:54

        If you follow the speed limit and cross the lights as it's going yellow, the following lights will also turn yellow as you're crossing the lights so you're pretty much going to sit at each light
        But still not a reason to run red lights

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 09:36

        @coco1458:

        This is not just simply people missing the lights on a yellow.

        This is people "seeing that little bit of green" in the red.

  • 

    JimmyF on 12/09/2017 - 10:02

    So based on that, once you run one, you run all the red lights?

• 

  [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 00:34

  +8

  I'm guessing its because sitting in traffic sucks balls.

• 

  tsunamisurfer on 12/09/2017 - 01:49

  Grand. Theft. Auto.

• 

  Flying Ace on 12/09/2017 - 06:03

  +3

  Here on the Sunshine Coast (not sure about elsewhere), they (council I guess) have a habit of adding red turn arrows on heaps of intersections where it used to be perfectly safe turning when the main through traffic's light was green. So now you can sit at a red arrow for upwards of three or four minutes with no traffic coming the other direction, when you used to be able to turn when it was safe to do so.

  • 

    doctordv8 on 12/09/2017 - 14:55

    +1

    Obviously was safe once upon a time, but alas the headstone now says otherwise. It only takes one or three idiots to change the reasons to have or have not the Red arrows. The rules are and timings are constantly monitored to improve traffic flow. I am on the SC too, and have seen various intersections change the timings, frequency and arrows over the years. It even changes in some intersections after peak hours for better flow and less waiting on empty roads.

    Remember to detail your thoughts, back it up with facts and the numbers, and tell/ask the Council to monitor and improve the timings as deemed safe and necessary at the spots you do not like.

• 

  bobbified on 12/09/2017 - 06:56

  +2

  This is most prevalent in the CBD area

  I believe people do it out of sheer frustration at the number of lights there are in the CBD and the SCATS system that controls the stop/go signals. Often the lights change to green only long enough allow one or two cars through. The driver in the third car will also go thinking they'll make it across because the intersection hasn't filled up with cars from the other directions yet.

  I don't do it myself, but I can definitely see a number of reasons why it happens.

  Many a times causing pedestrians to scurry out of the way of jump back onto the footpath in safety.

  Pedestrians in the CBD are not known to be angels either. There's usually a few stragglers crossing the road that hold up cars who already have a green signal. And then there are those who walk across the road without a care in the world, expecting drivers to magically avoid them.

  When I'm about to cross, I don't just look for the green figure. I always look around to make sure all the cars have stopped before I step off the footpath. If there's a car waiting for me because they are indicating to turn, I'll hurry up a little just out of courtesy.

  If I'm walking across a driveway (like out of a parking station) or a smaller street and I see a car coming out, I'd look around at the traffic. If there's a clear break for the car to join the main traffic, I'd signal the driver to go ahead because if they had to wait for me to cross in front of them first, then the road they're trying to get onto might fill up with other cars which would make them have to wait again.

  Like I always say, there needs to be commonsense and courtesy from both drivers and pedestrians. But that's never going to happen.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 11:31

    We need a low tolerance on drivers.

    I once called the police on a 4wd which ran me off the road.

    I told the police I am reporting an attempted murder (which is true right? They did try and kill me). Was fobbed off.

    Drivers get too many chances. Fines and demerit points are not enough. Why let a dangerous driver continue to drive at all? Instant disqualification on traffic offences. You people who keep making posts of traffic infringements are way too entitled.

    Pedestrians get no second chances when some bogan believes he is aweosme kent

    • 

      bobbified on 12/09/2017 - 12:48

      +2

      I am reporting an attempted murder (which is true right? They did try and kill me). Was fobbed off.

      You would've sounded like the biggest drama queen - This is the real reason you were fobbed off! haha

      Pedestrians get no second chances

      And this is correct - Drivers have a duty of care and pedestrians should also use their brain/senses and not simply rely on the colour of a light to protect them. A driver being sentenced to prison isn't going to resurrect anyone from the dead.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 13:19

        -1

        True, if a drivers carelessness cost someone their life; they will also cost the taxpayers thousands of dollars to feed, and house in prison.

        Seems fair: run someone over, get charity.

        Most traffic infringements are just a fine and some points off. That is hardly a punishment.

        If a dangerous driver is identified; they should be permanently removed from the road.

        You would've sounded like the biggest drama queen - This is the real reason you were fobbed off! haha

        Yet, the following few times someone hit me cycling and I have touched their "pride and joy", they almost exploded in rage. "awwww mi car…. its mi pride an joy… how dare ya touch it. Im gunna call da police". You entitled car drivers are so funny.

    • 

      doctordv8 on 12/09/2017 - 15:00

      Agree. The rules are the rules, drive accordingly or catch other transport. A little here, or a little there not following the Code, eventually leads to a lot here and a lot there of not following the Code. They can cross the white line a 100 times, but one day they will collide with a stationary object or another vehicle head on and wondering what happened.

      More traffic police, more patrols, and less tolerance. Sounds tough maybe, but too many near hits/close calls for my liking.

• 

  Euphemistic on 12/09/2017 - 07:04

  +2

  Same answer as for the keep left on overtaking thread and the using model be phones in the car thread. People think they are more important than everyone else and that the rules don't apply to them.

  I think we need to start a couple more of these threads.
  "Why do people not stop at stop signs"
  "Why don't people indicate"
  "Why do people park where they will get a ticket"
  And surely there are more.

• 

  vinni9284 on 12/09/2017 - 07:11

  +4

  "Why don't people indicate"

  This is a BIG one!

  Especially on Freeways/Motorways when drivers change lanes. I've lost count how many times I see this per day!

  Another massive occurrence is when a dual lane road merges into single lane … Yes a no brainer that traffic will merge into one but indicating is a sign of respect for the other drivers.

  I don't know why …. maybe too much of an effort to lift their right hand and operate/move a lever in a downward motion and then reverse after changing lanes. … or they don't want to risk blowing their very expensive $3 indicator bulb if they use it too much! … or maybe other drivers can read their mind and have ESP! ….. or Facebook/mobile internet on the go! .. hard with one hand on the phone and the other on the Steering Wheel … etc

  I consider changing lanes/turning without indicating is a lack of respect for other drivers.

  Sometimes you get a "One clicker" driver that indicates changing lanes using "one blink" … expecting other drivers to hopefully see that 1ms flash!

  Cheers

• 

  Caped Baldy on 12/09/2017 - 08:14

  I'm getting more concerned about driver merging from side streets when they don't have enough space to safely do it.

• 

  bargainswarrior03 on 12/09/2017 - 11:28

  https://www.facebook.com/DashCamOwnersAustralia/

  Youtube series alreeady exists where you can name and shame.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 12/09/2017 - 11:30

    Tbh i am sure i see many dashcam owners run reds too.

    I am just a lowly pedestrian who somehow is just deemed too unimportant to live and cross the road by (i assume) just shit people driving back to thier shit suburbs in thier shitmobiles.

• 

  original15 on 12/09/2017 - 12:48

  +1

  Everyone in too much of a hurry to value their and anyone else's lives

• 

  Some Human on 12/09/2017 - 13:02

  People are in a hurry to get home so they can sit down and waste time playing those tap tap phone games or posting lame crap on facebook like: "thanks for the flowers, person sitting next to me #besthubbyever"

• 

  doctordv8 on 12/09/2017 - 15:16

  +1

  Because of a severe lack of Respect for the Road Rules, for other people, and for their passengers. Poor planning, distractions, speeding, time short, …oh did I mention, No Respect for anybody else, perhaps even being Holier than Thou.

  Being a 'good' driver: safe, alert, observant, courteous, diligent, defensive and respectful of the Code and other people appears to be a dying art.

  Yes you can drive, from A to B but really…..did you indicate to the code? Not cut that corner….again? Not cross any lines? Keep your distance PROPERLY? Stay under the Maximum and set your speed to suit traffic, road and weather conditions? No phones or gadgets while driving? No drink/drug driving? I am talking 95% of the time, not just once a while one rule or two.

  I make mistakes and I am so anal about road rules and safety, so if I make mistakes after 40 yrs I can pretty well guarantee many think they CAN drive, but in reality….CAN NOT! Not even close to Properly ….most of the time.

  I see you every day….in my car an on my bike, so I do drive/ride defensively as if everyone is out to knock me off, and I am only talking from experience. Please everyone, just plan better, leave a few minutes earlier, be patient and courteous and arrive close to on time, which is better than not at all.

• 

  Geekomatic on 12/09/2017 - 15:35

  Maybe a bit of this?:

  You are trying to drive the speed limit as you can see the light is green up ahead. You move from the left to the right lane to hopefully reach said limit.

  Car in that lane goes exactly the same 8km below the limit, magnetically glued to the left-hand car, so you get stuck at the lights.

  Cars stop at red light. Intersection is one of those which is red for 4-5 mins. yet green for about 40 seconds.

  Turning lane finally gets the green.

  You are the second car in the right-hand lane.

  Light turns green.

  First car driver is now oblivious, even though they have been sitting for 5 mins. & the turning lane directly next to them has gone.

  You wait a second, as you do, hoping they take off. Nope.

  You eventually beep to wake the first car's driver from their stupor. They move across the intersection without actually putting their foot on the fuel peddle.

  You drive through, on the yellow.

  Repeat, nearly every intersection.

  Frustration leads to light running.

• 

  tonyjzx on 12/09/2017 - 16:05

  i actually used to do it a lot but more running orange lights

  i dont do it if its obviously well into the red

  i got done heaps when it was only $200 or so, i'll wear that

  now that it $400 plus…. eh. i'll wait and break early.