Why don't we have the UK sequence of lights here?

dulpit

Hey, I was stopped in traffic this morning and when the lights went green the car at the top of queue took an eternity to pull off so only 2 cars got through the lights before they went red. The third car (2 or 3 ahead of me) bombed through after the lights had gone red, clearly in a huff with the delay in the first car pulling off. When the lights went green for me a good 5 or 6 cars got through before they changed, showing the delay in the first car.

It got me wondering - why don't we have the UK sequence of lights where they go Red - Red & Amber - Green to alert people to get ready to pull off. Presumably it would increase the flow of traffic a little as cars should be more aware of when lights are going to change, and might help other drivers relax a little too.

Is there any specific reason why we don't have this or is there any argument against this sequencing pattern?

Jim_Hodge

the arguments here

Irish Traffic Light Sequence ... — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin'

still hold.

Plenty would jump the lights on Amber, for a start.

magicbastarder

In a lot of cases, the driver(s) at the front of the queue can see the other lights changing so are able to anticipate the light change.

I don't think in general there's an undue delay in people pulling away from lights? So there's not a huge problem to fix there.

One change we could make is rush hour traffic lights, especially on the likes of roundabouts. Whatever purpose they serve at rush hour, they are not always necessary when it's quiet.

SaxySaxSolo

The better question is why is switching between lights here so slow? In europe it's so much more frequent 30 seconds per junction max, when there is a pedestrian crossing. At some irish junctions I have seen lights stay on just one junction for over 2 minutes. That's way too long.

User1998

It works fine in the UK so theres no reason it wouldn’t work here. I can’t see how you can argue against that

DopeTech

why would we?

Hamsterchops

Having driven extensively in both the UK and Ireland I would say having the extra amber (before take off) makes the UK traffic light sequence more driver friendly. Love it 👍

bazz26

It would be the law of natural selection at junctions - the red light runners versus the impatient going on amber. This behavior is becoming more common in the UK too.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123725756#Comment_123725756

It's at least partly due to the number of RLJers which means many councils have extended the period between one light going red and the next going green, to account for them.

At one junction near me, I think it's at about four seconds after the red is shown that the next light goes green; and there are I think four cycles to the sequence there which might suggest 16 seconds lost to all lights being red on a full cycle.

Melodeon

I was reliably informed many years ago that this traffic light sequence was introduced in the UK to give Land-Rover drivers a chance to take up the slack in the drivetrain!

🙂

Hamsterchops

Love it 😂

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123725813#Comment_123725813

+1 to this.

When it comes down to it the only reason we don't have it is because the authorities think we wouldn't be able for it.

PukkaStukka

I'm told that the functionality for "amber before green" exists in Irish traffic lights, but is disabled.

Rock Steady Edy

Ireland sequence is the same as France; UK sequence is the same as Germany.

Another difference is that you sometimes see a flashing amber light in Ireland replacing the location of the green light.

horse7

It gives drivers a chance to use their phones. Lol

Dr_Colossus

"I don't think in general there's an undue delay in people pulling away from lights? So there's not a huge problem to fix there."

It's a pretty bid problem in heavy traffic in fairness, the amount of people engrossed in their phones oblivious to their surroundings is staggering. Often requires a beep from following motorists to alert them of the change in lights and then an extra couple of seconds to get moving whether that's the start/stop of the engine or actually getting it into gear.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123727569#Comment_123727569

I honestly don't think changing to a Red-Amber in the sequence will change that.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123725864#Comment_123725864

Indeed. I know of one junction in Clonmel where the sequence has changed becasue of this.

Another junction I know of has been changed so that there is not a simultaneous green across the junction. The main road lights are green in both directions, but the minor road go green in sequence, which is now slower than before.

Mrs CML's car was written off at the latter junction by a driver coming out of this junction and turning left across the traffic "sure wasn't the light green I could do that".

Eoinbmw

most slow drivers at lights are looking down at phones thats the real issue!

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123727667#Comment_123727667

Agreed the likes of those looking at phones are possibly beyond the reach of a simple change in light sequence.

But for the rest of us responsible drivers the amber to green could help.

deandean

I'd love to see the UK lights system in Ireland. My car is a turbo diesel automatic with start/stop, and it takes a couple of seconds to get going.

blackvalley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728469#Comment_123728469

It’s remarkable that it’s always “ people “ who are engrossed in their phones while driving. It’s never “us “

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728960#Comment_123728960

I didn't say it was always anyone.

But obviously if someone is looking at their phone they are not watching the lights.

Personally I never use my phone when driving.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728889#Comment_123728889

a couple of seconds? your car is the problem so!

Capt'n Midnight

The amber warning means drivers are quicker off the mark at green , but traffic flow is the same as there are less amber gamblers coming through late.