IT"S ORANGE!!!1

My name is URL

I was driving up to a junction earlier and the lights turned orange, I slowed down as usual and it went red so I stopped

There was car on the next lane which was about 50 meters behind when I started to slow down and he sped up and managed to pass before the light went red

I raged

What do you do at orange?

Biggins

The right thing.

wudangclan

I'm an amber gambler,myself.

MagicMarker

Depends.

RoyalMarine

personally, id slow down as there are a lot of pedestrians who would start to cross the street when the lights go orange.
better safe than sorry

Overheal

youre making up those distances right? He cleared 50m in 1.5 seconds and you slowed down?

Im a little confused.

Anyway I know my commute Sequence more or less. Theres places on the trip where the best way to avoid a red is to go under speed limit, and one really bastard light where you have to do some dangerous to hit the green. The alternative is a 4 minute (ive timed it) T-Junction Red Light from Hell. At which point I just shift into PArk and shut off the engine. Sip my coffee.

I suppose I could always Right on Red, U-Turn, and s do my normal Left turn that way. I dont know why I dont.

Wertz

Depends...if I'm going too fast whilst too close, so much so that in fact braking would be more dangerous than going through the amber, then I go through the amber....if I can stop safely then I usually do so (make an exception for ceetain sets of lights in the localty due to timing issues).

InKonspikuou2

Depends how close i am to the lights when they are changing and on what time of the day. It's all judgement for me.

Overheal

And oh yeah: Its Amber. Not Orange. Or Yellow.

ShooterSF

Amber means go faster

Ah I don't mind people diving through what I hate is sitting behind someone when a light turns green and they seem determined to see if it gets greener :mad:



Edit: Not that my post condones or supports breaking the law. (I'm still carrying an infraction for claiming to break the law)

cormie

Stop unless it is unsafe to do so :cool:

PeakOutput

stop if its safe to do so

otherwise speed up and make sure i get threw

mikom

My name is URL wrote: »

What do you do at orange?

Put on the sash my father wore.

GLaDOS

Overheal wrote: »

And oh yeah: Its Amber. Not Orange. Or Yellow.

What are you, a woman? Pfft, "amber", la dee da

Biggins

Originally Posted by Overheal
And oh yeah: Its Amber. Not Orange. Or Yellow.

ScienceNerd wrote: »

What are you, a woman? Pfft, "amber", la dee da

Yikes, I'm heading for me bunker! :pac:

Wertz

ShooterSF wrote: »

(I'm still carrying an infraction for claiming to break the law)

Wait...what?

On topic: someone over in the motors forum was saying about being pulled by the TC for breaking an amber...IIRC the rules of the road state that you are not obliged to stop at an amber signal unless it's safe to do so...so why bother pulling someone for breaking one?

I wouldn't really have much time for people who sink the boot when they see an amber light...if it's suddenly okay to speed up at that point where green goes to amber then why not just keep your average speed higher?

Overheal

anywho,

In virtually all jurisdictions in which they are used, it is an offence for motorists (and other road users) to disregard the instructions of traffic lights (or other traffic control devices). Exceptionally, it is not an offence for pedestrians to cross against a red light in the United Kingdom, where pedestrian lights officially give advice, rather than an instruction, although UK pedestrians do commit an offence if they cross a road against the signals of a police officer controlling traffic.

The most common infraction associated with traffic lights is failing to stop for a red light (in some jurisdictions, running an amber light can also incur a penalty). Enforcement of traffic lights varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; some places are extremely strict. Other locales are infamous for traffic lights being routinely ignored by motorists, with no serious attempts by law enforcement to alter the situation.

Jurisdictions differ somewhat on how to deal with "red light running" — attempts by motorists to race to an intersection while facing a yellow light, in an attempt to beat the red. In some locales, as long as the light is yellow when the motorist enters the intersection, no offense has been committed; in others, if the light turns red at any time before the motorist clears the intersection, then an offense occurs. In Oregon and other places, a stricter standard applies-—running an amber light is an offense, unless the motorist is unable to stop safely. This standard has been criticized as ambiguous and difficult to enforce (red light cameras in Oregon are activated only if a motorist enters the intersection on a red). Red light cameras in NSW, Australia are activated only if a motorist enters an intersection 0.3 seconds after the light has turned red.[25]

In some jurisdictions (such as Toronto, Washington D.C., New York City), and the state of California, there are ordinances against "gridlocking." Any motorist who enters an intersection (even if on a green light) but does not ensure that one can proceed through the intersection and gets stuck in the middle of the intersection (when traffic ahead fails to proceed), and remains there after the light turns red (thus blocking traffic coming from other directions) may receive a citation. The definition of the intersection area is that square where the two streets overlap marked by the inner lines of each crosswalk. (Occupying the space inside the crosswalk lines is itself a traffic infraction, but different from gridlocking.) This gives the meaning to the anti-gridlock slogan "Don't Block the Box." This is sometimes used as a justification for making a turn across the opposing travel lanes on a red light at a busy intersection, by pulling partway into the intersection at a green light waiting to perform the turn, and, if oncoming traffic is not abated before the light changes to red, proceeding to turn once the light has turned red and opposing traffic has stopped. This means that at busy junctions without a protected green arrow for turning traffic, one turns after the light turns red. This maneuver is commonly referred to as "occupying the intersection" or "being legally allowed to complete one's turn". In some jurisdictions, including most American states, a vehicle already in the intersection when the light turns red legally has the right of way, and vehicles who have green must yield to the vehicle in the intersection.

Im assuming Ireland is not one such place where running the amber light is an offense.

Stark

ScienceNerd wrote: »

What are you, a woman? Pfft, "amber", la dee da

I like to refer to it as "Tiffany" myself.

GLaDOS

Stark wrote: »

I like to refer to it as "Tiffany" myself.

They do a good breakfast too

Wertz

Overheal wrote: »

anywho,Im assuming Ireland is not one such place where running the amber light is an offense.

I suppose it's one of our grey-ish areas.

RoTR wrote:

An amber light means that you must not go beyond the stop line or, if there is no stop line, beyond the light. However, you may go on if you are so close to the line or the light when the amber light first appears that stopping would be dangerous.

So it's a judgement call....whcih given the ability of the average Irish motorist (myslef included) is slightly alarming.

Overheal

Ah. The Oregon thing. Very ambiguous.

Everywhere Ive driven the rule has been the more common: you may enter at any point when the light is either green or amber.

cormie

Wertz wrote: »

Wait...what?

On topic: someone over in the motors forum was saying about being pulled by the TC for breaking an amber...IIRC the rules of the road state that you are not obliged to stop at an amber signal unless it's safe to do so...so why bother pulling someone for breaking one?

You are obliged, unless it is unsafe to do so

Vagante

The driving theory books say that at an orange light you should slow down to stop unless it is unsafe to do so.
In other words if you are too near the light to be able to stop gradually and avoid breaking abruptly

VinnyTGM

Wertz wrote: »

Depends...if I'm going too fast whilst too close, so much so that in fact braking would be more dangerous than going through the amber, then I go through the amber....if I can stop safely then I usually do so (make an exception for ceetain sets of lights in the localty due to timing issues).

Pretty much same thing I do.

squod

There's a couple of golden rules not mentioned yet.

• Traffic lights don't apply between 1am and 6am.
• Only stop at amber if the burd crossing is good looking
• Red lights give you time to check out the burds in the car behind
• Never stop for any reason in Bray

Cuddlesworth

Overheal wrote: »

youre making up those distances right? He cleared 50m in 1.5 seconds and you slowed down?

Im a little confused.

Anyway I know my commute Sequence more or less. Theres places on the trip where the best way to avoid a red is to go under speed limit, and one really bastard light where you have to do some dangerous to hit the green. The alternative is a 4 minute (ive timed it) T-Junction Red Light from Hell. At which point I just shift into PArk and shut off the engine. Sip my coffee.

I suppose I could always Right on Red, U-Turn, and s do my normal Left turn that way. I dont know why I dont.

Your a little confused? Can I least get a diagram for this?

smiley girl

I have voted 'floor it' but it really depends on the distance I am from the lights. If I'm close enough and I know I will make it I will go for it, but obviously I don't want to kill anyone so I wouldn't speed up and bomb it to the lights if I was too far away.

georgem25

usually stop .... if its safe to do so

Overheal

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Your a little confused? Can I least get a diagram for this?

Slow zone: 40 in a 45

Fast Zone: ** in a 55

Light of Death.

Proposed Red Right U-turn Maneuver. Turn Right at Red @ Light of death and then make U-Turn on Carolina Ave @ Garden Hill Road

The beat the light method is not advised in wet conditions (well - its not advised period). Also give yourself plenty of time to decellerate: you want to plan on be going 10mph when you enter the intersection.

But this light is really awful in that it seems to be on a timer: the turn lights are on for about 15 seconds, every 4 minutes, whether theres traffic on Carolina or not.

TheKells

It's supposed to be a judgement call, but I failed a test because I didn't stop even though the car behind was too close...in my opinion!

Overheal

TheKells wrote: »

It's supposed to be a judgement call, but I failed a test because I didn't stop even though the car behind was too close...in my opinion!

The car behind you in all cases is irrelevant in 99% of cases. The driver behind you takes full responsibility for their vehicle and their following distance. If I chose to tail a vehicle, and they slammed their brakes and I crashed into them, it would be my fault.

I made the same assumption when I started driving, and I was always afraid to apply brakes before checking my rear mirror: That will get you killed.

Fun tip though, if youre in the outside lane and someone is riding up your ass, signal to turn off onto a side street, they will almost always go into the inside lane to get past you, as they otherwise assume you'd be about to go to a complete stop

ToniTuddle

Like a few people have said, if it turns orange/amber then you start to slow down unless you are too close and it's unsafe to do so.

Amount of feicing times I've nearly been run over at crossings in this county is unreal.
:mad:

john-joe

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/traffic-lights-and-signals/traffic-lights.html

rizzee

eat ti

WindSock

Ordange = Stop unless unsafe to do so.

Unsafe also includes me kidneys are about to pop / I'm so hungry I could eat a knackers arse through a bush / If I miss the start of Eastenders, I won't know till Sunday what part of the Bible Dot was bangin on abahhht.

Agricola

If I see people standing at the crossing, Ill stop for an orange light in case one of em gets inpatient and walks out in front of me. If theres no-one at the crossing, its vroom vroom!

El Weirdo

Stay yellow! Stay yellow!

/Lenny

empirix

Depends on my speed
Depends on the junction(on a busy main road lots of cars/lots of people about etc)
Depends how familiar i am with the road/junction

Murphyt

Gambling on the orange will get you killed, as for people who think they know the sequence of the lights, dont forget there is a guy in a truck coming opposite who also knows the sequence and is speeding up for his green as you speed up on your yellow, dead!

baalthor

I think the intent of the law is: if I'm coming up to a light at the normal urban speed limit and it turns orange when I'm about 10 metres away (say), I shouldn't slam on the brakes and come to a screeching halt half-way through the junction.
So I think "safe" means that you can bring the car to a stop before the lights through normal stopping/braking.
If you accelerate at all you're breaking the law.

In practice of course people make a judgment call depending on how late they are for work:); I remember one visitor from the UK was surprised by the amount of "ambler gamblers" here, but of course they have cameras on all the lights over there.

A few years ago I went through a light as it turned orange. There was a car a good bit behind me travelling at fair pace but the light was definitely red by the time he got to it.
I know this because I could hear the horns from the cars coming out of the side road as he went straight through.
As I turned into the work car park he was right behind me and as I went to go in through a side entrance he came running up behind, obviously late for work.
But unfortunately in his haste he had forgotten his ID badge and couldn't get in, so he had to go the security desk and was still late anyway! I laughed!

CCCP^

You should stop, I've seen one chap try to leg it and he plowed into the side of a hi-ace.

Liam Byrne

I saw some idiot try this at Punch's Cross a few years back; he was in front of me and turning right, and as we approached I saw the lights go amber and eased off the accelarator......he, however, accelarated, and swung right with the idea that the oncoming traffic would stop on amber.

Unfortunately for this little prick in question, the light sequence was staggered, and the girl coming against him still had a green and went straight through him because she wasn't slowing; he got spun and hit the opposite side of the car off a lamp-pole, both impacts (and his momentum) making **** of his car COMPLETELY.

I stopped with the hazards on, and the girl was in complete shock; I felt really sorry for her and was glad I was full witness (I knew the light sequence) and could tell the cops that arrived exactly what happened so that she wasn't blamed......

Hope the prick that did it got everything that he deserved!

manutd

Slow down, if it was a pedestrian crossing, if not tr to get past it, special in Navan.

My name is URL

My name is URL wrote: »

I raged

What do you do at orange?

I rage when the person in front of me slows down for amber!!

I always floor it for an amber!!

Amber = Green as far as I'm concerned.

Average-Ro

Slightly OT. I was at a pedestrian crossing not to long ago; pushed the button and the little green man showed up so I started to walk across. A car that had to stop as I was going across started beeping at me and waving his arms frantically (which I translated as "get the hell out of my way") Being the good samaritan that I am, I pointed at the red light, reminding him that he couldn't go until it changed, regardless of whether I was there or not.

He then proceeded to edge the car forward a bit as if trying to nudge me out of the way, so I decided I'd stay in front of him, admiring the scenery around me, until the light changed to amber and I then got out of his way. It was only an extra 10 seconds or so, but he was furious. He sped off, red-faced with anger and giving me the finger as he did so. The guy in the car behind him was having trouble taking off because he was laughing too much.

monosharp

ShooterSF wrote: »

Amber means go faster

It does in Korea.

Liam Byrne

Taylor Deafening Ginkgo wrote: »

I rage when the person in front of me slows down for amber!!

I always floor it for an amber!!

Even when the person in front of you slows down ?

Would hate to see your insurance bill!

Actually, would hate to see you in the mirror, since you'd rage every time I obeyed the rules of the road!!!!

You must rage a LOT!!!!

Liam Byrne

monosharp wrote: »

It does in Korea.

In Poland a green arrow means almost the OPPOSITE to what it does here...you can go, but the cars on the road that you're going on to still have priority.....it's kind of like the makey-uppy flashing amber arrow here.....

Liam Byrne

Liam Byrne wrote: »

Even when the person in front of you slows down ?

Would hate to see your insurance bill!

Actually, would hate to see you in the mirror, since you'd rage every time I obeyed the rules of the road!!!!

You must rage a LOT!!!!

Obviously I cannot make a go for it if the person in front slows down unless of course there are two lanes as I will go around them:D

It rarely happens as almost everybody goes for the lights as far as I can see.

Liam Byrne

Taylor Deafening Ginkgo wrote: »

Obviously I cannot make a go for it if the person in front slows down unless of course there are two lanes as I will go around them:D

Jaysus, it's bad enough taking a chance yourself on an amber, but if you're the second car, and have to

1) slow down
2) check your mirror to make sure there's no-one in the second lane
3) indicate
4) switch lanes, and
5) then proceed

.... the light would DEFINITELY be red by then!

SM01

Answering original post. Prepare to stop. But if it's not safe to stop, floor it!