Interesting article on Traffic Control

[wrightme43]

Distracting Miss Daisy

 

[Cloggy]

Nice article Steve, I know what that guys talking about, and agree with it.

My father in law actually finds driving in the UK very simple, even though he is used to driving on the right hand side as opposed to the left (the side of the road the Brits drive on). In the UK once you know the basics the rest is pretty self explanatory.

In Holland there are an excessive number of road signs, many caused by the need to show right of way at junctions, which can become complicated due to the "rule of the right" (traffic approaching from the right hand side on 2 equal roads (without traffic lights) has right of way).

I also agree that in the US stop signs are too often used, just to slow down traffic, and somehow loose their urgency in doing so.

Its not all one way though, One great rule you guys across the pond have that I would love to see over here is that you can turn right at a red traffic light (left for the UK), as long as there is no traffic coming, it really speeds things up.:thumbup:

 

[wrightme43]

I agree except it is abused here badly.

 

[lonesoldier84]

there should be two speed limits.

one for people who can drive. and one for people who NEED to go slower than the rest of us because they have the driving instincts of an african dung beetle.

 

[SpacemanSpiff0x0]

That is a really good article. I have learned in rural PA to distrust speed-limit signs and to think of stop signs as an annoyance...instead of an important warning to stop. Also, the statement about recieving more speeding warnings on days with perfect driving conditions is true. The law enforcement system used here in the US actually derives funding from traffic citations and, in some cases, places quotas on officers. Driving citations are supposed to be about SAFETY! Instead they sit on a road with a too slow sign on a perfect day at the bottom of a hill and write tickets to hit the quota...completely ridiculous.

Okay...I'm done now...I had to rant after that tool gave me a ticket today.

 

[damnpoor]

There are three things that I think are very important that arrise -

1) It is indeed absurd how you're pulled over for going 6 over the speed limit on a wide open road, yet people routinely go 15 or 20 over in congested areas and seem to get away with it regularly.

2) When you're driving through an intersection with a light, consciously pay attention to how much you're looking at the light itself to make sure it doesn't turn yellow on you. Then think about how that attention would have been better spent watching for pedestrians or light-runners.

3) He mentions the "cross traffic does not stop" signs at some intersections. If it weren't such a guessing game as to which intersections where lights, stops, or yields, we wouldn't need that sign to remind us to pay more attention. While I'm not a fan of roundabouts, I'm even less of a fan of stopping every city block.

 

[dako81]

They'll never get rid of all of our traffic signs and laws, they make too much money off of them.

Good article.