Irish drivers and traffic lights

gsxr1

Yes You. WAKE THE FAKE UP AND GO!!!! Its turned green .

Feck. I think most drivers are stoned out there. There seems to be a good 5 seconds before they react to a green light in Dublin. The driving undead.

Makes me want to get out and slap them a bit.

irishgeo

The worst thing is when a feeder light turns green and people just sit there.

gsxr1

irishgeo wrote: »

The worst thing is when a feeder light turns green and people just sit there.

Jasuzzzz dont get me started on right turn filter lights where one has to drive into the junction to activate the censer on the road.

They just sit there. Behind the white line Scratching their dopey heads , wondering why the filter light does not light for them .

I good beating is what they need.

Victor

irishgeo wrote: »

The worst thing is when a feeder light turns green and people just sit there.

Or worse, the other green filter light hasn't come on and the driver through anyway.

gsxr1 wrote: »

Jasuzzzz dont get me started on right turn filter lights where one has to drive into the junction to activate the censer on the road.

I've not come across any of these (I don't drive). Where are they? Are they where there is a forward stop box?

gsxr1

Victor wrote: »

Or worse, the other green filter light hasn't come on and they driver through anyway.

Now. wait there.

That can be a gray area!

DarkJager

Or my new pet hate, a type of driver I like to name the "bicycle bastard".

Clear day, 11c, dry roads and sunshine - yet this irritating and dangerous ****er just can't go any faster than 60kmh on 100kmh road. Named because they'd be more suited to the top speed of a ****ing bicycle than a car.

arybvtcw0eolkf

gsxr1 wrote: »

Yes You. WAKE THE FAKE UP AND GO!!!! Its turned green .

Feck. I think most drivers are stoned out there. There seems to be a good 5 seconds before they react to a green light in Dublin. The driving undead.

Makes me want to get out and slap them a bit.

You really should have posted this in the motor's forum for a laugh, I've never seen a place inhabited by so many law abidding, perfect jockeys on high horses drivers in any one place in my life.

A "get set" amber light, like most countries in Europe would be helpful!

Cicero

gsxr1 wrote: »

Yes You. WAKE THE FAKE UP AND GO!!!! Its turned green .

Feck. I think most drivers are stoned out there. There seems to be a good 5 seconds before they react to a green light in Dublin. The driving undead.

Makes me want to get out and slap them a bit.

Are you posting on boards while driving again?:D

Bigcheeze

gsxr1 wrote: »

Jasuzzzz dont get me started on right turn filter lights where one has to drive into the junction to activate the censer on the road.

They just sit there. Behind the white line Scratching their dopey heads , wondering why the filter light does not light for them .

I good beating is what they need.

Depends what you're talking about. You shouldn't drive on to the junction where there only directional arrow lights governing the junction.

Bigcheeze

Deleted User wrote: »

A "get set" amber light, like most countries in Europe would be helpful!

Yes although being ireland lots of people will go on orange and lots of people will accelerate through the opposite red light, leading to lots of fatal collisions.

MagicSean

Deleted User wrote: »

A "get set" amber light, like most countries in Europe would be helpful!

No. Drivers just need to wake the **** up.

ICE HOUSE

Agreed,
It drives me mad seeing the lights go green then the idiot at the front starts playing di*ckin around with the handbrake etc. :mad:

Daegerty

gsxr1 wrote: »

Yes You. WAKE THE FAKE UP AND GO!!!! Its turned green .

Feck. I think most drivers are stoned out there. There seems to be a good 5 seconds before they react to a green light in Dublin. The driving undead.

Makes me want to get out and slap them a bit.

Motors forum--->(not here)

Renn

Cyclists are the worst for this.

Amhran Nua

Less caffeine methinks, we'll all get there in the end. My own list of people to be wary of on the roads would be as follows:

1) Vans and small commercial vehicles, nothing more dangerous than someone driving on someone else's insurance
2) Jeeps, 4x4s, SUVs, etc, especially with the bull bars on the front. Just because you're in a higher vehicle doesn't mean you're any safer in a crash.
3) Motorbikes jinking in and out of traffic as though it was a stunt course. If you want to be treated like a car, act like a car please.

Micky Dolenz

I lived in London for a few years and liked the traffic light system they had. Green-Amber-red then Amber back to green. On amber people would move and by the time it was green you would be away on a hack.

When I returned to Ireland the red to Green used to drive me nuts because everyone was so slow to react. I learned in time to relax about it.

Dolph Starbeam

I was thought that if i am one of the 1st 3 cars at the lights i should have the car in gear and ready to go, i hate people that take ages to pull away from the lights.

Son Of A Vidic

OP - very true, but I reckon the delay averages 5 - 10 seconds before 'El Sapo' at the front gets moving. It's the silent sheep sitting behind in their cars which is the worst part though.

starbelgrade

One of the many pleasures of living in the west of Ireland is that there are very, very few traffic lights.

Micky Dolenz

starbelgrade wrote: »

One of the many pleasures of living in the west of Ireland is that there are very, very few traffic lights.

Or cars.

Humans eh!

It works both ways, the sport of speed up on amber and accelerate through the red is alive and well.
In a perfect world neither the red light racer or the green scratcher (scratching their arse as the lights change) would exist. Taking off just on cue of a green light places too much faith in your fellow motorist not to be hammering through the red as is his god given right.

It is literally a circus out there and not a funny one.
My car cut out at the lights in Drogheda yesterday just for two seconds as the light went green. In that two seconds a grey jeep shot through their own red right before my eyes. Would have broadsided me had my car not stalled.

A little patience wouldn't hurt on Irish roads.

starbelgrade

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Or cars.

Or "D" plates.

Nothingbetter2d

your forgetting that people need to wind up their noddy cars before it can go

Mint Sauce

starbelgrade wrote: »

One of the many pleasures of living in the west of Ireland is that there are very, very few traffic lights.

I think most of them are on the releif road in Sligo Town.

:mad:

starbelgrade

irish-stew wrote: »

I think most of them are on the releif road in Sligo Town.

:mad:

Not much relief on that road!

I drive a lot, but I only go into town once a week. The rest of the week is generally traffic light free.

lcrcboy

Im learning to drive and I ****ing hate it when some dickhead constantly beeps at me when trying to pull off from the traffic lights and I feel like getting out and slapping the driver who is beeping :mad::mad:

Micky Dolenz

starbelgrade wrote: »

Or "D" plates.

Where I come from D plate = Under cover cop car.

Mint Sauce

lcrcboy wrote: »

Im learning to drive and I ****ing hate it when some dickhead constantly beeps at me when trying to pull off from the traffic lights and I feel like getting out and slapping the driver who is beeping :mad::mad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBxloSkObYc

starbelgrade

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Where I come from D plate = Under cover cop car.

Under cover Ford Mondeo!

lcrcboy

lcrcboy wrote: »

Im learning to drive and I ****ing hate it when some dickhead constantly beeps at me when trying to pull off from the traffic lights and I feel like getting out and slapping the driver who is beeping :mad::mad:

In many (third world) countries, it's the customary for the first car to be so far over the line that they can't see the lights and it's the job of the driver in the second car in line to "beep" when the lights change! :eek:

If you want to cause a crash, just beep early!!! :pac:

x in the city

Irish drivers are morons, period.

I have built up a strong mental resolve about traffic lights here, so now I am (or was, as I am in britain now) used to waiting around 10 seconds to get a move on from traffic lights it seems...:mad:

down in kerry they are a joy to behold, and roundies down there are awesome.

some dude decided it would be good to put a ped x at the ends of roundies, so if someone goes left at a roundie then all of a sudden some 80 yr old OAP walk across and bang... all the cars smack into each other.

lcrcboy

lcrcboy wrote: »

Im learning to drive and I ****ing hate it when some dickhead constantly beeps at me when trying to pull off from the traffic lights and I feel like getting out and slapping the driver who is beeping :mad::mad:

I had the same once when I was learning to drive and about to take off. I was advanced enough, not just starting out learning, and I was always quick to take off. But I swear this guy beeped literally 1s after the light went green. 1s at most, as I was about to move.:mad:

lcrcboy

bluewolf wrote: »

I had the same once when I was learning to drive and about to take off. I was advanced enough, not just starting out learning, and I was always quick to take off. But I swear this guy beeped literally 1s after the light went green. 1s at most, as I was about to move.:mad:

Im the same I haven't stalled once on the lights but one particular occasion as soon as the lights changed some guy just started beeping

TheZohanS

Amhran Nua wrote: »

Less caffeine methinks, we'll all get there in the end. My own list of people to be wary of on the roads would be as follows:

1) Vans and small commercial vehicles, nothing more dangerous than someone driving on someone else's insurance
2) Jeeps, 4x4s, SUVs, etc, especially with the bull bars on the front. Just because you're in a higher vehicle doesn't mean you're any safer in a crash.
3) Motorbikes jinking in and out of traffic as though it was a stunt course. If you want to be treated like a car, act like a car please.

So basically everyone on the road except a car driver is incorrect?

That motorbike "jinking" as you call it is called filtering and it's completely legal. By and large motorbike riders have attained a higher skillset when it comes to motoring, you have to be far more aware when riding a bike and when other motorists make mistakes the consequences are far greater.

If motorbike riders acted "like a car" there would be far more accidents on the road.

nyarlothothep

There are too many impatient drivers on the roads who put people into dangerous situations through their reckless actions and idiocy. Not surprising that people act this way once they get a bit of perceived power behind the wheel. If someone doesn't take off in the first 5 seconds, eh so what, its 5 seconds, thats a tiny amount of time, try not to blow a blood vessel.

starbelgrade

The basic rules of the road in relation to traffic lights are;

- Green means "go"

- Amber means "go faster", and

- Red means "first ten cars only".


Once you stick to those principles, you should be sound.

gsxr1

nyarlothothep wrote: »

There are too many impatient drivers on the roads who put people into dangerous situations through their reckless actions and idiocy. Not surprising that people act this way once they get a bit of perceived power behind the wheel. If someone doesn't take off in the first 5 seconds, eh so what, its 5 seconds, thats a tiny amount of time, try not to blow a blood vessel.

Here. Call it impatient if ya want, but I just want to reach my destination before I die of old age.
When some toss pot hangs around for 5 secs some other poor fecker 5 cars behind him who has been waiting 4 mins in line will probably miss the light because of dopey at the front.

Victor wrote: »

I've not come across any of these (I don't drive). Where are they? Are they where there is a forward stop box?

If you look to the ground on the approach to most sets of lights, look to the ground. You will see black lines on the road. Some extend into the stop box.
They are pressure censors to tell the lighting circuit that you are waiting. Especially hard to activate on a motorcycle.

nyarlothothep

gsxr1 wrote: »

Here. Call it impatient if ya want, but I just want to reach my destination before I die of old age.
When some toss pot hangs around for 5 secs some other poor fecker 5 cars behind him who has been waiting 4 mins in line will probably miss the light because of dopey at the front.

Its this attitude of self entitlement and impatience which costs lives.

Micky Dolenz

nyarlothothep wrote: »

Its this attitude of self entitlement and impatience which costs lives.

oooh, thats good. They have you there OP :P

Amhran Nua

TheZohan wrote: »

So basically everyone on the road except a car driver is incorrect?

That motorbike "jinking" as you call it is called filtering and it's completely legal. By and large motorbike riders have attained a higher skillset when it comes to motoring, you have to be far more aware when riding a bike and when other motorists make mistakes the consequences are far greater.

If motorbike riders acted "like a car" there would be far more accidents on the road.

It's probably legal, it's not safe though. I used to hang around with a lot of bikers, and every one of them had broken bones at one stage or another. I'm actually thinking about getting a bike myself one of the days - could you explain why there would be more accidents if bikes behaved like cars?

Capt'n Midnight

Deleted User wrote: »

A "get set" amber light, like most countries in Europe would be helpful!

Then have them in the UK
and where else ?

IIRC it doesn't allow more traffic trough the junction it just means it starts moving a second or two earlier.


then again the fact that traffic will move off sooner should cut back on the number of amber gamblers / people who follow others through even when it goes a very reddish shade of amber

Capt'n Midnight

Mark! wrote: »

I was thought that if i am one of the 1st 3 cars at the lights i should have the car in gear and ready to go, i hate people that take ages to pull away from the lights.

The thing that bugs me is on a dual carraige way the person in the overtaking lane being slow off the mark

Solair

Deleted User wrote: »

A "get set" amber light, like most countries in Europe would be helpful!

Other than the UK, nobody else uses that in Europe.
all it seems to achieve in the UK is people agressively driving at pedestrians.

Positioning of traffic lights in ireland often makes them invisible to the car at the stop line.

The UK usually has a third light a few meters ahead of the line and many continental countries use mini traffic lights mounted low down on the pole where the pedestrian crossing buttons are. Possibly more cost effective and less cluttering than the UK approach. Could easily be retrofitted on ireland too.

Kidchameleon

gsxr1 wrote: »

Jasuzzzz dont get me started on right turn filter lights where one has to drive into the junction to activate the censer on the road.

They just sit there. Behind the white line Scratching their dopey heads , wondering why the filter light does not light for them .

I good beating is what they need.

Your supposed to wait at the white line, learn to read and then buy yourself a copy of the rules of the road... Sheesh!

Capt'n Midnight

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Then have them in the UK
and where else ?

IIRC it doesn't allow more traffic trough the junction it just means it starts moving a second or two earlier.


then again the fact that traffic will move off sooner should cut back on the number of amber gamblers / people who follow others through even when it goes a very reddish shade of amber

I don't have a list but certainly Germany and Austria as well as UK and many others.

Solair

There are issues with sequences too. I find Dublin is worse than Cork for example when it comes to utterly bizarre traffic light sequences such as ridiculously short greens, lights not synchronised on the same street etc etc

pedestrians also regularly block you because crossing green periods are usually too short leaving people on the crossing as the lights change.

Cork pedestrians will just cross regardless and of you beep you'll either get waived and smiled at or you'll get the finger!

.

slimjimmc

The drivers who take 5 secs or more to pull away are the ones who wouldn't paying much attention to the lights anyway so I doubt an amber get ready light would get them going any quicker and all it would do is cause greater frustration to everyone else who did get ready on amber.

I'd much rather prefer they kept their brain switched on instead.

gsxr1

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Your supposed to wait at the white line, learn to read and then buy yourself a copy of the rules of the road... Sheesh!

WORNG WRONG PRONG . You read it.

When a green light is lit and you are turning right you proceed to the middle of the junction and go when its clear OR wait for the filter. Unless that filter lane has a separate red right.(red light existing for a ped crossing).

Maybe you are correct and no one told the RSA or driving instructors . They must be teaching everyone the wrong thing.

Kidchameleon

gsxr1 wrote: »

WORNG WRONG WRONG . You read it.

When a green light is lit and you are turning right you proceed to the middle of the junction and go when its clear OR wait for the filter. Unless that filter lane has a separate red right.(red light existing for a ped crossing).

Maybe you are correct and no one told the RSA or driving instructors . They must be teaching everyone the wrong thing.

FYP :rolleyes:

Have the book in front of me, where are you getting this information from? YOU are most certainly wrong

smellslikeshoes

Amhran Nua wrote: »

It's probably legal, it's not safe though.

It's perfectly safe when done right, in fact I feel safer doing it than sitting in traffic waiting for someone to rear end me because a lot of car drivers are incapable of seeing a bike. On a slightly related note (but not trying to prove anything with it) check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPwqil82hRQ
Very very lucky guy there.

Amhran Nua wrote: »

I used to hang around with a lot of bikers, and every one of them had broken bones at one stage or another.

This has more to do with the lack of protection a bike offers compared to a car than bikers being unsafe. A small accident in a car where you exchange details and on your way is often a trip to hospital if you're hit on a bike.

Amhran Nua wrote: »

I'm actually thinking about getting a bike myself one of the days - could you explain why there would be more accidents if bikes behaved like cars?

Driving a car is unbelievably different to riding a bike. To survive on a bike you have to assume nobody sees you, see that car waiting to pull out onto the road? the driver can't see you and will pull out on you.
Bikers also can't make mistakes like car drivers, any small mistake on a bike and it's gonna hurt. So yes if bikes acted like cars there would be more accidents.