So what? Should we also listen to the loud minority of people who think that all taxation is theft?
Sorry. I meant its a similar mentality - cavalier approach to safety. Speeding is unlikely to result in an accident BUT when it does it is very obvious that speeding was a bad thing. Similar with railway level crossings. I don't agree with the attitude but it exists and persists.
That is a problem. If a level crossing in a fairly busy area is down for over 50% of the time its too tempting for the impatient motorist. I got the impression years ago that alternative routes with no crossings in SW London are not very available. It is not an excuse though. I really don't see a cheap way round having the level crossings.
In the US "No Turn On Red" was something that freaked me. Does that mean I can otherwise turn on red at other junctions ?. An American told me just don't bother turning on red anywhere. I suppose turning on red is more or less what many end up doing in the UK at a lot of junctions - if you are stuck out in the middle waiting to turn right you don't get your chance until the straight on crowd have stopped !.
Tbh it's sounding more like they routinely run lights (or cut them close) and are trying to justify it that they aren't breaking the law.
You’re quite correct. Flashing yellows is telling the driver the route is set for a diverging junction.
I think he's just trying to find an innocent answer to why people take the risks, the reality is that people who do so know it's wrong, they just think they'll get away with it. It isn't the first time someone has suggested on this site that using conventional traffic signals would increase compliance, I'm pretty sure that even past Transport Ministers have proposed the same. The reality is that it isn't unfamiliarity that causes breaches, it's a combination of overfamiliarity, impunity, and the "it won't happen to me" mentality.
That is entirely my view.
In a lot of places, a red light can be treated as a give way sign, but only if you are turning right. Where there is some other hazard like a pedestrian crossing, there is a sign saying "no turn on red". It's quite sensible, there are signalled junctions in the UK where the left turn is has a filter lane with a give way sign
No. But I'd have a good bet that the same people who make such claims, are the same people who think they pick and choose whether to stop at level crossings...
Indeed. But they don't. Which is why the discussion is taking place in the first place. If everybody obeyed all laws all of the time, we wouldn't need to spend half as much money on policing and the criminal justice system. But they don't, so we do.
Yes, a lot. And it's because they don't think they'll be caught by the train or the plod.
Very limited given how limited an improvement you'd get, both fro. The impossibility of timing such a thing and the trains not keeping to time.
Closed is different but jumping the lights before or as it starts closing is not a serious risk and they know it. I wouldn't do it in a car but every time I do stop for a LC I sit there thinking "Where is this bloody train then?!". The locals will learn and make their own risk assesment. Cameras is the answer to almost everyone.
Speed cameras are different - there is much debate (let's not do it here though!) about whether speed limits are justified, and whether the cameras are put where they are needed or where gets the most money. Same to a lesser extent with bus lane and box junction cameras. I don't think anyone seriously disputes getting nicked for jumping a red light.
Well that's half the reason - thinking you can get away with it is certainly a necessary condition!
All well and good until they encounter an unbarriered crossing and get mown down because they think they’re safe until the barriers are down and fail to notice that there are no barriers.
I can assure you I do not run red lights. And don't think that because I express a concern about flashing reds that I am worried for myself - I am thinking of other drivers who might be slow to figure it out.
I think that is right and I am sure there are a number of people for whom impatience overrides safety, often speeding indicates this.
I have heard that some cameras are put where there have been accidents.
Indeed. The crossings with no barriers are more tempting and also lack an indication of how imminent the train is. They of course mean that the warning for those who would not break the rules is just the wig-wag lights. For the impatient rule breakers there will be those who don't notice (or choose to ignore) the sign saying a second train could be coming. I imagine that will be a risk at open crossings and AHB (Automatic Half Barrier) crossings so perhaps they always have a full set of barriers if services are more frequent ?.
Indeed. We already have similar for speeding although they don't seem to rub the non legal consequences in very well, its probably "too unpleasant" for the poor sensitive tearaways. I would like to see some publicity for child car seats or the lack of as I have had little success persuading some drivers I know of their benefit. I am not aware anything is enforced on that front tbh.
Years ago I was stopped by the lights on an unbarriered crossing in Kent, and the driver following overtook me and went over the crossing about two seconds before the train arrived. This was a crossing on the narrow-gauge RHDR, so this driver was risking their own life less than those on board the train, particularly the locomotive crew. It was also a steam loco, so it's not as if there was any question of how far away it was. Two train drivers have lost their lives in crossing collisions on that railway within living memory.
I have had to stop at crossing wig-wag lights from time to time, but it always worries me that the guy behind will not agree with my decision, and drive round my stopped car and cross the line. There's an element of " - See, it was OK after all" to it, but of course it is my imagination that supplies that bit. One time, stopped at a crossing (Banbury Lane and West Coast Main Line) I had three other drivers who came from behind, follow-my-leader style, between flashing light commencement and barrier coming down, and right under the eye of the crossing keeper too. Is there an element of " If he can do it, so can I" to that?
Your first paragraph really makes me want to remind everyone - NEVER give in to peer pressure !. I know sometimes looking in the rear view mirror can be very unsettling. I have many times over the years sensed the utter anger and frustration of people behind me when I am sticking to the speed limit *. My favourite examples where when the speed camera posts went in on the A23 South of Purley I recognised what was coming and tried harder to stick to 30mph. Once the cameras had been fully installed for a while there was no longer so many drivers driving so close to my exhaust pipe !.
Interestingly I often find that by driving in lane 1 at 70mph I undertake a sizeable number of vehicles doing well under the speed limit.
Oh yes that as well. So few use lane one there must be broken glass spread over it !. At least on a managed motorway the old lane one is now carrying more cars !.
