Turning left on red

Lisapeep

Having experience of driving in the USA, where it is legal to turn right through a red light if it is safe to do so, I would suggest that the same rule, applied to left-hand turns in this country, would go some way to reducing traffic congestion.

Any thoughts on this? Alot of the time, it is perfectly safe to turn left when the light is red!

30-6shooter

You can cant ya? Sometimes there does be a little green arrow for turning left when the main light is red.

jlang

I'm a fan of left on red as they have in other countries (after stopping as if at a stop rather than a yield and with pedestrians getting priority over the turning cars.)

There are arguments for and against, though. Those against generally refer to the crap standard of compliance with the existing rules in this country and the likelihood of accident rates increasing. They probably have a point, but I still like the system and believe that with a proper education campaign it could be introduced.

But then, I'd also like to believe people might drive on the left on motorways and turn off their foglights once in a while.

Lisapeep

I'm talking about situations where there is no green arrow! You can think of examples, can't you?

Talliesin

Even in the US this isn't non-controversal. Some states don't allow you to turn right on red.

30-6shooter

Yeah, i can think of examples. If theres nothing coming and safe to do so, just turn left. Whats the big deal,,, who cares like. Just dont have a squad car directly behind you.

Lisapeep

At the moment, if the light's red, it's red - it's not on to be making up your own rules! The worst is when people actually beep you for being stopped at the red light when it's safe to go - the cheek of them!

MrPudding

Lisapeep wrote:

At the moment, if the light's red, it's red - it's not on to be making up your own rules! The worst is when people actually beep you for being stopped at the red light when it's safe to go - the cheek of them!

For me the issue is that people in Ireland already have too little respect for red lights. To tell them that it is OK to pass them under some circumstances will only make this worse. One of the reasons turning on red is successful in the States is there are, apparently, considerably less pedestrian crossings. This makes things much easier.

For me the better option would be replace the green lights with flashing amber arrows. We could then have a system where we can protect the pedestrian crossing time with a red light for the cars. At all other time you could have a turn left with caution. This way we will not be encouraging the running of red lights. As others have mentioned in other threads, other countries have pedestrian crossing where vehicles and pedestrians have green at the same time. In these cases pedestrians have priority. If we could have a similar attitude here from drivers we could have constant “left with caution” on junctions with no need for reds. I fear it will be a long time before we can do this though.

MrP

Lisapeep

MrPudding wrote:

One of the reasons turning on red is successful in the States is there are, apparently, considerably less pedestrian crossings. This makes things much easier. MrP

I would disagree. As jaywalking is illegal, I have found that there are slightly more pedestrian crossings there than here - except, obviously on the freeways!

MrPudding

Lisapeep wrote:

I would disagree. As jaywalking is illegal, I have found that there are slightly more pedestrian crossings there than here - except, obviously on the freeways!

Like I said, "apparently.":D I have friends that have been in Austin that have told me there are areas of the city center that do not even have pavements. I have also heard DCC people mentioning this when asked about left on red.

Regardles of this, for me the main issue is Irish drivers lack of respect for red lights as things currently stand coupled with a lack of respect for other road users. Taking both of these into consideration I do not feel that left on red would be a good idea but do feel that a left with caution with a red light protected crossing period for pedestrians, where needed, would be a useful compromise.

MrP

LFCFan

Ireland is never going to progress if we keep coming up with the 'we can't trust the Irish to do it right' attitude everytime there is talk of a new rule that works in other countries. Although I do agree that the Irish are a different species, we need to get away from this Nanny state attitude.

beller b

we will never get anywhere with drivers like 30-6 shooter on the roads....
But for the normal responsible drivers I think the idea is good..

Bogger77

MrPudding wrote:

Like I said, "apparently.":D I have friends that have been in Austin that have told me there are areas of the city center that do not even have pavements. I have also heard DCC people mentioning this when asked about left on red.

MrP

Spent a few weeks in Austin, as a Pedistrian. I found it to be a a lot more pedestrian friendly, esp in the city center, than other US cities.

From what I recall, most of the city center junctions are marked as "No right Turn on Red". They even close off several blocks to traffic on Friday/Sat night in the music bar area.

Agree that on junctions without pedistrian crossings, turn left on red would be an improvement, or perhaps outside of rush hour, the lights switch to flashing amber, or even fuzzy logic traffic to become wide spread, but that's just crazy talk!!

DubTony

Turning left on red will probably never be legal here, but what the hell, there are enough people turning right on red in the Tallaght area for it to be written into the statute books.

Tallght bypass junction with Belgard Road is a favourite. Cars travelling from the city regualrly ignore the red light for turning when there's nothing coming toward them.
Greenhills Road junction with Kilnamanagh is another. Travelling from Walkinstown, cars turning right into Kilnamanagh regularly break the red light. I've even had people beep and wave to tell me to go round.
At the opposite end of Kilnamanagh the same stuff happens, as some people coming from the direction of the Square think nothing of breaking the red light to get into Kilnamanagh.

Lets get the rules enforced before we experiment. Red light cameras anyone?

MrPudding

Apparently the red light camera trial was a success, meaning it caught people running red lights. With a bit of luck it will be extended soon. I think a fine and a couple of penalty point will soon make people a bit less likely to run the reds.

Is Magpie still arround? I wonder does he still think that if we do have red light cameras we will need signs to tell drivers they are supposed to stop at red lights? Personally, rather than waste money on signs at every junction telling people they are supposed to stop at red lights I think it would be better to put it in the rules of the road and have it in the test.

MrP

MrP

Victor

I have to say, that in Germany, it was slightly un-nerving for the man to go green, you to put a foot on the pedestrian crossing and a truck lurches aroungd the corner and stops. Sometimes you wonder "will he stop".