Right turn on red (left)

Simon201

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_turn_on_red
(of course 'left' in Ireland!)

If this works in a good few places in the world (specifically USA for 50 years or so) and is obviously not a cause of accidents, I often wonder why wouldn't it be implemented here. With the current state of traffic jams in Dublin and Ireland, I can think of countless junctions where this would be really useful to keep a certain amount of traffic flowing.

These are the questions that whirr through my head as I'm sitting at some junction for minutes on end staring at a red light, with not a car in sight (ok maybe 20 cars behind me!) and wanting to turn left.....

Topper Harley

On a few rare occasions, I have done this (very late at night and with no other cars around). Thing is, I trust myself to do it safely but this country is full of arrogant drivers so it might not work. It would be nice to see it gradually introduced though. And I recognise that with my view of my driving compared to others, I am also actually an arrogant driver (but not really).

Paulw

In the US, they drive much slower in built up areas. That's probably why it works there.

Irish drivers go too fast and don't show enough care as is.

Can't see it coming in over here.

biko

I wouldn't trust people to yield.
When it works in France/Italy, then we can start it here :-)

Jip

It would never work here, the main issue is that people will just go for it anyway no matter how close a car is to them, just look at roundabouts for example.
When proper traffic enforcement comes in then it might stand a chance. There's no comaprison to the states. I used to live around the corner from a four way stop sign, basically what they would have instead of a roundabout. Several days a week a cop car would park in the car park near to it any anyone that didn't come to a full stop would be ticketed.

KTRIC

We have that in Germany. Also right turn with green for pedestrians, which is retarded to say the least.

Alanstrainor

KTRIC wrote: »

We have that in Germany. Also right turn with green for pedestrians, which is retarded to say the least.

Indeed! That was a bit of a shock as a pedestrian in Berlin/Munich last Summer:eek:

Biro

That's the problem. If you told the Irish motorist that they can now turn left on a red light, 60% of them would get it into their heads that they now have right of way on a red light and plough on no matter what.
If you look at the yanks, they usually crawl around to the right when the light is red, expecting things to be in the way. Paddy would put the boot down, beep at anything that might be there, and shout abuse and give out that they don't know how to use the road.

Creamy Goodness

irish motorists cannot grasp the simple use of indicators so the thought of a left turn on red is the last thing we need to add to that.

rocknchef

wow some people love bashing there own country men and women:mad: maybe the reason it works in other countries is it was introduced years ago and after so many years they have got it into there way of life. |I have been to many countries and alot of them have worse drivers than here.

Idleater

Topper Harley wrote: »

Thing is, I trust myself to do it safely but this country is full of arrogant drivers so it might not work.

I know you acknowledged the point, but to me this is why such a "rule" would not work in this country.

I mean, some people can't even apply this rule to roundabouts, or even yield T-Junctions, where it is legal to do so, so how do we think they will cope with a red traffic light?

roadwars

They do it in Belgium too, or else i got unlucky when trying to cross the road, EVERY TIME!

brian076

Slightly off thread, but I often wondered why we don't adopt the UK system of having the amber light come on with the red, just before the green. I think this would speed traffic up as the 1st car at traffic lights is rarely ready to go when the lights go green

vorbis

no reason why it wouldn't work in Ireland. I live in Boston now and me and any other irish people I know over here have no problem with it. The green for pedestrians on a right turn is a bit much though. Keeps you on your toes!

dudara

KTRIC wrote: »

We have that in Germany. Also right turn with green for pedestrians, which is retarded to say the least.

Ditto - I spent six months living in Brussels last year, and the fact that drivers could proceed through a green man freaked the hell out of me. It came pretty close on a couple of occasions.

The turn left on red idea is great (having driven in the States) but I don't know if Irish people are ready for yet. As a country, we've still to master the roundabout and general red light behaviour.

dudara

brian076 wrote: »

Slightly off thread, but I often wondered why we don't adopt the UK system of having the amber light come on with the red, just before the green. I think this would speed traffic up as the 1st car at traffic lights is rarely ready to go when the lights go green

Again, another good idea in theory, but the majority of drivers would interpret the amber as time to go.

We have a fundamental misunderstanding of the green light in Ireland. It does not mean that you have the RIGHT to proceed, it means that you CAN proceed.

Cappo

brian076 wrote: »

Slightly off thread, but I often wondered why we don't adopt the UK system of having the amber light come on with the red, just before the green. I think this would speed traffic up as the 1st car at traffic lights is rarely ready to go when the lights go green

In my opinion without doubt this is the easiest way to speed up traffic in Ireland. Wakes up the sleepy, dozy, phone users, paper readers and the generally inept at driving. Costs almost nothing! :cool:

Topper Harley

Maybe our system isn't as great as the US, the UK or Germany but we should all be greatful that we don't use the Chinese system. While in Taxis in Beijing on many occasions, we took right turns at a very busy junctions on 8 lane roads (4 each direction) by just driving straight into 4 lanes of oncoming traffic and weaving our way though. Happened many times and was very scary. And the way to change lanes there, is to move without looking in your mirrors - if someone's there, they beep you. No beep - you're clear to go.

jackofalltrades

Simon201 wrote:

If this works in a good few places in the world (specifically USA for 50 years or so) and is obviously not a cause of accidents, I often wonder why wouldn't it be implemented here.

Having just recently came back from living in the US I agree that it is a great idea, but it won't work in Ireland for a few reasons.

1. In the US you have to come to a complete stop before you can turn right on red. Stopping at stop signs in Ireland seems to be considered an optional maneavure. I've actually had passengers comment on my driving after I've stopped at a stop sign.

2. As other posters have pointed out respect for "right of way" isn't the best with Irish drivers. If the rule was brought in you'd quickly get people losing patience and cutting up drivers passing through the junction on a green light. Just look at how poeple behave on roundabouts, and drivers who force there way out into traffic.

eringobragh

Works well in Australia

Turn left on Red unless there's a Red filter arrow.

memeyouyou

Irish drivers are too stoopid to understand something like this

NiSmO

This post has been deleted.

Davidth88

The first time I went to the States I loved the turn right on red idea, wanted to suggest to everyone that we should impliment it ( I lived in the UK at the time ).

Then I thought about it , most of the roads in the US are much larger , and have space for filter lanes so people who are going straight on don't hold up people who want to turn right. In the UK ( and here in Ireland ) most traffic junctions just are not big enough to cope with this idea.

Just think how frustrated you would be if you are sitting behind someone who is waiting for the green and you want to turn left.

I do notice there are more and more flashing amber arrows , which work quite well and in effect are the same thing ( where there is space ).

Not withstanding the very poor driving standards here , mainly due to lack of training, lack of policing and general attitude of the ' rules don't apply to me ' I think the physical limitations of the roads are a more genuine reason this cannot be adopted here.

Topper Harley

Davidth88 wrote: »

Not withstanding the very poor driving standards here , mainly due to lack of training, lack of policing and general attitude of the ' rules don't apply to me ' I think the physical limitations of the roads are a more genuine reason this cannot be adopted here.

But the rules really don't apply to me, they only apply to people who can't get by without them.:rolleyes:

Luke Crowley

rocknchef wrote: »

I have been to many countries and alot of them have worse drivers than here.

What countries? I would say I'm reasonably well travelled, and we are by FAR the worst drivers I have ever come across.

Saruman

Spain, Czech Republic (on par with Irish), Italy, India etc....