Traffic lights

Jamie-b

I posted here about nearly causing an acident braking too soon. Yesterday I think I ran a red light- it turned orange and I thought I couldnt brake fast enough and then red as I hit the line.:mad: I was still going slower than everyone else. At the next light I hit the orange and notice a few come through behind me also. The traffic lights at N11 ornage to red really fast! I am having loads of trouble deciding to brake.
Can I get a penalty point now? Or are cameras and stuff just for speeding?

cormie

You can of course get penalty points for breaking a red light, but unless there's a camera set up to specifically catch you, or a garda sees you and pulls you over, I wouldn't worry about it and chances are, on the N11, there definitely WASN'T either

If you're going the posted speed limit, most lights will allow sufficient time to brake slowly and safely. There's one on the N11 though that doesn't really give enough time, it's going south just before Cornelscourt.

If you can stop safely, do. If by stopping you end up in the middle of a junction, just keep going, you'll get used to it with practice. If you've gone through it and there's a few cars coming through behind you aswell then I'm sure any observing garda would pull over the one who went through last and if you brake too hard, if somebody goes into the back of you, it's their fault in 99% of cases. Both situations being best avoided though

cosmic

I find that keeping an eye on the green lights is the best way. Basically if I'm conscious of any lights up ahead that are green and have been green for a while I anticipate that they might turn amber. I'm not really explaining myself very well - but basically if a light up ahead has been green for a while it's likely it'll turn amber before i get there so I am prepared. Maybe give this a try next time you're out.

thebiglad

cosmic wrote: »

I find that keeping an eye on the green lights is the best way. Basically if I'm conscious of any lights up ahead that are green and have been green for a while I anticipate that they might turn amber. I'm not really explaining myself very well - but basically if a light up ahead has been green for a while it's likely it'll turn amber before i get there so I am prepared. Maybe give this a try next time you're out.

You mean you put the boot down to make sure you reach it on green:p

Max Power1

thebiglad wrote: »

You mean you put the boot down to make sure you reach it on green:p

unless you are doing your test or theres gardai around

Alkers

Also go to a carpark and practice hard breaking, e.g. pushing the break all the way to the floor (lifting off if your wheels lock), when you push it your car will stop a lot quicker than you probably thought it would be able to. Especially if you don't have ABS this can be invaluable practice, shame there's nothing like it on the test.

**Timbuk2**

What I do is take my foot off the accelerator before I approach lights that have been green for a while, it's much easier to start breaking quickly but gently if you have your foot hovering over the break. Don't overdo it though or you might get marked for progress and once you get to a point where it is safe to keep going if/when the lights turn amber, then push it on again.