I can't stand other drivers
- Thread starter Devin
- Start date
Buzzman12
Active Member
As a Canadian that regularly travels to the US, especially in winter when we go south for a while, I can tell you this is one of the most irritating things that American drivers do, and they do it a lot.
We are not immune to left lane parkers here either, but it's nothing compared to what I encounter on the likes of I-81 or I-95.
It is so frustrating, and I'm loathe to pass people on the right, because when I do, I am in their blind spot for a bit, and you never know when they will suddenly decide to move right.
There are signs everywhere now too, that say keep right except to pass, etc etc., but 99% of drivers ignore the signage. It's left lane here I come.
Loops
One of the ways to increase your number of green lights is to understand loops.
"Inductive" Loops are embedded in the road at most intersections to measure the flow of traffic and set traffic lights. They are usually located two or three car lengths back from the stop line. They are also located in left turn lanes for countries driving on the right and right turn lanes for countries driving on the left.
For the straight ahead lanes
Traffic lights are usually set for a main road and only trigger if a vehicle approaches on a side road. If there are two main roads then lights are set for a minimum time one way then a minimum time the other way. This can be extended to a maximum time each way depending on how much traffic is flowing or at peak times or can be manually adjusted remotely to clear blockages after accidents. Monitoring Centres can add just a few seconds at each green cycle for one way to clear a blockage over say 30 minutes. This is why sometimes you get a really lousy run and the traffic lights seem skewed whilst the following day they're fine. There could be an accident clearing up the other way from a half hour ago you don't know about...Rather than giving traffic a clear run many jurisdictions use traffic lights to manage traffic flow. If they didn't traffic would get faster and faster and faster. Also everyone has to get a go.
So these Inductive loops which measure metal also count cars and measure their speed. Typically a loop looks for a three second gap after the minimum green cycle has been reached. Once this is found the lights will display yellow to pull the traffic up, then red. This is why it is important to stop on yellow and not use it as an extension of green. It is an extension of red. If you can't stop OK but most drivers get plenty of warning. This is also why when in a straight line it is almost impossible to get a red light camera fine. Yellow lights give plenty of warning to stop. Sometimes when the maximum time is reached the yellow light will be on for longer to pull up the large flow of traffic.
To maximise the amount of green time is to not leave big gaps in front as the loop will continue to see traffic flow without a gap. If you thought the bloke in front was dragging his feet and caused you to miss the green light ahead it is exactly that. He caused the lights to turn red by not keeping up with the traffic.
Turn Lanes
Often the green arrow will not come up unless a car is sitting in the left turn lane for right hand drive countries and right lane for left hand drive countries. An inductive loop is fitted in the road. Sometimes it is just before the stop line so the green arrow will always come up if one vehicle is in the lane. Often though the loop is set two or three cars back, so only when a number of cars are sitting in the turn lane does the green arrow come up. It will also count the cars so if there are three cars it allows for example 6 seconds. Four cars 8 seconds etc up to a maximum time of maybe 10 seconds.....this is why if a person in front goes to sleep he can "use" up your time to get around. To maximise your chance of green arrows, look for the loop. If it is two or three cars back from the stop line stop on top of it. When another comes from behind, move up and let him sit on it. This will usually activate the green turn arrow for you even though you really didn't deserve it
You should look for loops anyway and stop on top of them in straight ahead lanes if they are just before the stop line. If you overshoot them and are past the stop line, you may wait much longer for the lights to change because the lights your side don't know you're there......
Red Light Cameras
The loops are set just past the stop line. You cannot set the cameras off by sitting on top of them only entering them and leaving them after the signal has turned red and the loop usually activates 0.5 to 0.8 seconds AFTER the signal has turned red.
So to get a red light camera fine you must. 1. Ignore the yellow light that gives you plenty of warning to stop before the stop line. 2. The light turned red 0.8 seconds later. 3. The loop activated. 4. The vehicle passed the stop line entered and left the activated loop. 5. Two pictures taken 1 second apart. The first is on activation of the camera. The second is to see if you stopped even though it is past the stop line you should not be fined.
Turn Lanes
If you are past the stop line and the lights change to yellow. Turn. If you are before the stop line. Stop. Stop on yellow. That's the law anyway. Unless you can't and that would not be the case because you should be driving slowly enough turning. Unless you are trying to beat the red... There is only 0.8 seconds between a light being yellow and a red light camera activating to so don't run yellow lights on turns expecting to beat the red.
Then there are trams and emergency vehicles, fire stations and the like that set traffic lights according to the direction they want to travel.
One of the ways to increase your number of green lights is to understand loops.
"Inductive" Loops are embedded in the road at most intersections to measure the flow of traffic and set traffic lights. They are usually located two or three car lengths back from the stop line. They are also located in left turn lanes for countries driving on the right and right turn lanes for countries driving on the left.
For the straight ahead lanes
Traffic lights are usually set for a main road and only trigger if a vehicle approaches on a side road. If there are two main roads then lights are set for a minimum time one way then a minimum time the other way. This can be extended to a maximum time each way depending on how much traffic is flowing or at peak times or can be manually adjusted remotely to clear blockages after accidents. Monitoring Centres can add just a few seconds at each green cycle for one way to clear a blockage over say 30 minutes. This is why sometimes you get a really lousy run and the traffic lights seem skewed whilst the following day they're fine. There could be an accident clearing up the other way from a half hour ago you don't know about...Rather than giving traffic a clear run many jurisdictions use traffic lights to manage traffic flow. If they didn't traffic would get faster and faster and faster. Also everyone has to get a go.
So these Inductive loops which measure metal also count cars and measure their speed. Typically a loop looks for a three second gap after the minimum green cycle has been reached. Once this is found the lights will display yellow to pull the traffic up, then red. This is why it is important to stop on yellow and not use it as an extension of green. It is an extension of red. If you can't stop OK but most drivers get plenty of warning. This is also why when in a straight line it is almost impossible to get a red light camera fine. Yellow lights give plenty of warning to stop. Sometimes when the maximum time is reached the yellow light will be on for longer to pull up the large flow of traffic.
To maximise the amount of green time is to not leave big gaps in front as the loop will continue to see traffic flow without a gap. If you thought the bloke in front was dragging his feet and caused you to miss the green light ahead it is exactly that. He caused the lights to turn red by not keeping up with the traffic.
Turn Lanes
Often the green arrow will not come up unless a car is sitting in the left turn lane for right hand drive countries and right lane for left hand drive countries. An inductive loop is fitted in the road. Sometimes it is just before the stop line so the green arrow will always come up if one vehicle is in the lane. Often though the loop is set two or three cars back, so only when a number of cars are sitting in the turn lane does the green arrow come up. It will also count the cars so if there are three cars it allows for example 6 seconds. Four cars 8 seconds etc up to a maximum time of maybe 10 seconds.....this is why if a person in front goes to sleep he can "use" up your time to get around. To maximise your chance of green arrows, look for the loop. If it is two or three cars back from the stop line stop on top of it. When another comes from behind, move up and let him sit on it. This will usually activate the green turn arrow for you even though you really didn't deserve it
You should look for loops anyway and stop on top of them in straight ahead lanes if they are just before the stop line. If you overshoot them and are past the stop line, you may wait much longer for the lights to change because the lights your side don't know you're there......
Red Light Cameras
The loops are set just past the stop line. You cannot set the cameras off by sitting on top of them only entering them and leaving them after the signal has turned red and the loop usually activates 0.5 to 0.8 seconds AFTER the signal has turned red.
So to get a red light camera fine you must. 1. Ignore the yellow light that gives you plenty of warning to stop before the stop line. 2. The light turned red 0.8 seconds later. 3. The loop activated. 4. The vehicle passed the stop line entered and left the activated loop. 5. Two pictures taken 1 second apart. The first is on activation of the camera. The second is to see if you stopped even though it is past the stop line you should not be fined.
Turn Lanes
If you are past the stop line and the lights change to yellow. Turn. If you are before the stop line. Stop. Stop on yellow. That's the law anyway. Unless you can't and that would not be the case because you should be driving slowly enough turning. Unless you are trying to beat the red... There is only 0.8 seconds between a light being yellow and a red light camera activating to so don't run yellow lights on turns expecting to beat the red.
Then there are trams and emergency vehicles, fire stations and the like that set traffic lights according to the direction they want to travel.
JSolo
2500 Posts Club!
tl;dr I will read the above eventually.
