Breaking lights at empty crossroads = victimless crime, or is it?

05-10-2017 05:25PM

dil999 wrote: »

Its never safe to do so.

Nonsense, of course it is unless you are blind.

Isambard · 05-10-2017 06:56PM

jumping a red light is exactly the same as not stopping completely at a STOP sign.

Rules are made for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools

Rubberchikken · 05-10-2017 06:59PM

No ref light is so long and no one is in such a hurry that they can't wait.
Too many arrogant think-theyre-entitled drivers out there.

Gerrup Outta Dat! · 05-10-2017 07:04PM

Why don't we have left on a red like most countries have right on a red.

colm_mcm · 05-10-2017 07:06PM

Gerrup Outta Dat! wrote: »

Why don't we have left on a red like most countries have right on a red.

Because our pedestrian crossings are set up differently. We have filter lights at some junctions with a flashing amber left arrow, that's the nearest we've got and it's a much better idea as you can control it better.
Don't underestimate how stupid people can be.

bucketybuck · 05-10-2017 07:15PM

I knew people killed at some of those deserted country junctions where the locals could easily see that nothing was coming...

In both cases the cause was some moron who thought things would be grand and pulled on out. The country is full of them, and clearly there are a few in this thread as well.

It's such a shame these morons take other people with them when they go.

endacl · 05-10-2017 07:18PM

Sue Pa Key Pa wrote: »

So, your village prohibits outsiders driving through it, given that they are not familiar with the by-laws that you've all adopted?

Are you local?

Mr.Crinklewood · 05-10-2017 07:18PM

biko wrote: »

So if the garda van where to jump off a cliff...

The Gardai report would say 466,776 vans jumped off a cliff.

RustyNut · 05-10-2017 07:26PM

dil999 wrote: »

Sounds like the sort of place where the person you hit is guaranteed to be your first cousin, so shouldn't be a problem:)

And the background music on the dash cam videos is dualing banjos.

ianobrien · 05-10-2017 07:27PM

I remember years ago I was coming home late (or really early) one night and I was turning out onto the North Ring Road in Cork, just below Dunnes Stores. As I came up to the junction, the lights were red and as there was nobody coming, I stopped (red light after all). Anyway, the mind started to wander and I never copped that my lights had gone green. Anyway I came back to reality and decided I had better move. Just as I was about to move off, somebody ran the red light in the opposite direction and it was obvious he had no intention of slowing down. If I had moved when the light turned green, he probably would have been in the door to me.

TL/DR Don't run red lights as some other poor idiot could have the green and be barrelling through........

Isambard · 05-10-2017 07:46PM

bucketybuck wrote: »

I knew people killed at some of those deserted country junctions where the locals could easily see that nothing was coming...

In both cases the cause was some moron who thought things would be grand and pulled on out. The country is full of them, and clearly there are a few in this thread as well.

It's such a shame these morons take other people with them when they go.

whereas you have my symmpathy, i suspect those junctions didn't have traffic lights.

bucketybuck · 05-10-2017 07:59PM

Isambard wrote: »

whereas you have my symmpathy, i suspect those junctions didn't have traffic lights.

The point is this stupid fallacy of "there's nothing coming".

Ubbquittious · 05-10-2017 09:08PM

**yawn**

I don't think a set of lights in a local village deserves it's own thread

TrailerBob · 05-10-2017 09:09PM

Hooks Golf Handicap wrote: »

My local village has one set traffic lights on our centre crossroads.
A few years ago the village was bypassed yet the lights still remained.
Locals have now taken to ignoring the red & just yield for any traffic.
If you were stopped at the red light on a quiet day any car behind you would start laying on the horn to bully you on.

People follow laws when they make sense but soon revert to type when there's no logic.
Anyway, victimless crime or stringing up offence ?

Is this Castledermot by any chance? I pass through it every day, often late at night, and people are constantly jumping the red coming from the Athy road.. it doesn't help that they are not smart lights, so take an age to change, but red is red.

John_Rambo · 05-10-2017 09:18PM

I've never been that much in a rush to do so. I'd slow right down coming up to a deserted red light and wait for it to go green before starting to gain speed without stopping. Typical eco/driving skills maintained by most European drivers. Good for the car, good for the environment, my pocket and good for other road users, including pedestrians.

I'd suggest that most drivers that feel the need to drive through red lights should get up earlier or manage their time better.

To maintain balance, I'd expect someone with a medical emergency on their hands to do so. Otherwise, it's just lazy, sloppy and immature driving.

gerryirl · 05-10-2017 09:26PM

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Pretty simple answer. Red light always means stop.

correct... if there was an accident of any kind and you had broken a red light you have not a leg to stand

Isambard · 06-10-2017 07:25AM

bucketybuck wrote: »

The point is this stupid fallacy of "there's nothing coming".

there's a difference between someone crossing a red light (or STOP sign) when there isn't anything coming and someone doing so without looking.

Cabaal · 06-10-2017 07:40AM

Adriana Bewildered Neighbor wrote: »

I see absolutely no problem going through a red light when its safe to do so. There is one particularly pointless set of lights on my route home that I drive through on red almost every day otherwise I'd be sitting there waiting for ages for a green when it's clearly safe to proceed.

One persons"safe" is another person's "unsafe",

I know people who think it's "safe" to drink drive after 4 pints, I know others who won't drive if they've had one as they see that as safe.

Some people see driving 180km/hor on a motorway as safe, others do not.

This is the problem with your "safe", it changes with each person if you are going to ignore the law completely

bucketybuck · 06-10-2017 08:01AM

Isambard wrote: »

there's a difference between someone crossing a red light (or STOP sign) when there isn't anything coming and someone doing so without looking.

You don't get it. Those people are crossing the red light because they think nothing is coming. Most of the time they will be right, but they will kill somebody when they are wrong.

You seem to be implying that any of these gombeens going through the red light will have stopped and made sure the way is clear before proceeding with their illegal manoeuvre, and that seems rather hopeful on your part.

fryup · 06-10-2017 08:23AM

The thread topic reminds me of this joke...

Paddy on his driving test is driving along a road and he comes to a red light, Paddy flies right through it! The examiner says "What the hell! That was a red light!" Paddy waves him off, saying, "My brother drives like this!"
So they drive a little while longer, and they come to another red light. Once again, Paddy flies right through it. The examiner freaks out again. Paddy says, " relax will ya.. the brother always drives like this, and he's never been in one accident."
A few moments later, they come to a green light, and they stop instantly. The examiner looks at Paddy and says, "What the hell are you stopping for!!!"

Paddy says.."Well just in case the brother is coming the other way!" :pac:

Isambard · 06-10-2017 08:36AM

bucketybuck wrote: »

You don't get it. Those people are crossing the red light because they think nothing is coming. Most of the time they will be right, but they will kill somebody when they are wrong.

You seem to be implying that any of these gombeens going through the red light will have stopped and made sure the way is clear before proceeding with their illegal manoeuvre, and that seems rather hopeful on your part.

and yet I'm willing to bet you have crossed a STOP sign without stopping.... it's just the same thing

bucketybuck · 06-10-2017 08:38AM

Isambard wrote: »

and yet I'm willing to bet you have crossed a STOP sign without stopping.... it's just the same thing

You would lose that bet but that's irrelevant. Like I say, you don't seem to get it.

Isambard · 06-10-2017 08:40AM

only your opinion of what I think, not what I think.

Markcheese · 06-10-2017 09:11AM

Lobby your local council / councillors... Since the lights are there rather than getting them removed just ask to get them to flash red or amber,outside of "rush hours"...
Is there a pedestrian crossing on the lights too? That'd confuse things..

06-10-2017 09:13AM

bucketybuck wrote: »

You don't get it. Those people are crossing the red light because they think nothing is coming. Most of the time they will be right, but they will kill somebody when they are wrong.

You seem to be implying that any of these gombeens going through the red light will have stopped and made sure the way is clear before proceeding with their illegal manoeuvre, and that seems rather hopeful on your part.

I'm not even saying there might be nothing coming, im saying it's safe to proceed. The move I do is a left turn from a small road to a bigger road, you have a birds eye view of approaching traffic and can easily judge if it's safe to enter the other road.

About a hundred yards down the road there is another identical junction into the same road with just a stop sign and people can drive out here when they judge it's safe to do so. What sudden inspiration does the driver get on how to judge when it's safe to go at the stop sign compared to making the same judgement at the red light?

Isambard · 06-10-2017 09:50AM

my point to a tee. Noones suggesting driving blindly through a red light, but stopping and then proceding on a red light is exactly the same as doing the same at a STOP sign, except it's illegal to do so. It isn't necessarily unsafe.

dil999 · 06-10-2017 01:06PM

Isambard wrote: »

my point to a tee. Noones suggesting driving blindly through a red light, but stopping and then proceding on a red light is exactly the same as doing the same at a STOP sign, except it's illegal to do so. It isn't necessarily unsafe.

Rubbish. If a stop sign was required then there would be a stop sign.

I can guarantee you that any muppet who actually thinks like that also has no problem overtaking on bends, driving significantly over the speed limit and talking or texting on their phone when driving on the motorway. Then they wonder why it costs them 2 grand to insure a 1 litre banger.
Grinds my gears.

06-10-2017 01:49PM

dil999 wrote: »

Rubbish. If a stop sign was required then there would be a stop sign.

I can guarantee you that any muppet who actually thinks like that also has no problem overtaking on bends, driving significantly over the speed limit and talking or texting on their phone when driving on the motorway. Then they wonder why it costs them 2 grand to insure a 1 litre banger.
Grinds my gears.

The majority of lights are required for people proceeding through a junction or turning right so crossing a lane of traffic. The vast majority of lights are not needed for a left turn at a junction, in fact it would help a lot with traffic flow if a turn left on red was introduced here similar to the turn right on red in the US.

2Mad2BeMad · 06-10-2017 02:20PM

Isambard wrote: »

jumping a red light is exactly the same as not stopping completely at a STOP sign.

Rules are made for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools

I could give a fair few examples of where a yeild sign should be a stop sign and vice versa.
Ive told the council their not bothered.

I wouldnt jump a red light. Just a personsal thing my ocd would annoy the **** out of me for doing it i would have to do a uturn and go through it again when it changes green :L

Isambard · 06-10-2017 04:53PM

dil999 wrote: »

Rubbish. If a stop sign was required then there would be a stop sign.

I can guarantee you that any muppet who actually thinks like that also has no problem overtaking on bends, driving significantly over the speed limit and talking or texting on their phone when driving on the motorway. Then they wonder why it costs them 2 grand to insure a 1 litre banger.
Grinds my gears.

It's not rubbish, no need to be so confrontational. A stop sign and a red traffic light mena exactly the same.

Breaking lights at empty crossroads = victimless crime, or is it?

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