sitting still @ green lights, left arrows (Phoenix, Tucson: how much, to live, dangerous) - City-Data Forum

Frustrated driver · 05-03-2007, 04:32 PM

I'd really like to know why it seems to be a common occurrence for drivers to not budge from the intersections when the stoplights turns green. Or worse, not moving when the green left arrows come on, causing gridlock behind them. I was behind somebody last week in a left turn lane. Green arrow came on, and he just sat there staring into space even after I honked. When I honked the second time, he finally got his butt moving, but not before flipping me off. I love it when they're in the wrong, but they feel like they have to resort to telling others off with their middle finger. Real mature! What is it with Arizona drivers? Why can't these morons get moving when the light turns green without having to be pushed or honked at? Don't they know this inattentiveness is dangerous? By the time they wake up & get moving, other people behind them are getting angry, and they end up turning on a yellow or red arrow. It's a simple concept, folks: provided that the coast is clear, green means GO!!!! Got it? Good. This ends today's Traffic 101 class.

brittZ · 05-03-2007, 04:41 PM

While I understand your frustration, is it necessary to be so angry about such a minor issue. I fail to understand why people get so insanely angry about the faults of other drivers. I used to do it to and I still dont understand. At some point I decided their was more to worry about with life. Besides, have you ever been guilty of doing something stupid on the road? We all just need to have a little more patience and realize that the 10 or 15 seconds you might have to wait isnt going to ruin your life and if it is, you should have left sooner.

Steve-o · 05-03-2007, 04:45 PM

I agree with BrittZ, its not worth it to get worked up over it, regardless if its a daily occurance. I used to be VERY guilty of having road rage, then I had a son and it calmed down LOTS. There are more important things to worry about. A few wasted seconds of your life sitting at a intersection is pale in comparison to death from having a psycho pull a gun on you for honking at him/her. It happens all the time across America. You never know whos packing heat and who isnt. Be careful out there.

Frustrated driver · 05-03-2007, 04:51 PM

I see your points, and I wouldn't be so upset if this kind of thing happened once in a while, but it seems to be a common occurrence. I witness it sometimes several times in a week. What really irritated me about this guy I described was how he gave me the finger just because I honked at him for being in the wrong. This kind of thing is more than just annoying, it's dangerous when people behind them are ill-tempered as a result, and having to sit idle through another light-change cycle, or risk turning left on yellow & red arrows just because somebody up front was slow and inattentive. Everybody keeps whining about speeders. What about these slow or inattentive morons who hold people up? It doesn't matter how much earlier I leave, it's still a problem that should be addressed

Ponderosa · 05-03-2007, 05:00 PM

I don't know how long you have been here but blowing the horn is considered a capital offense in Phoenix and can get you executed on the spot. Blowing at green arrow is considered OK, but you must TAP the horn not lay on it. Anyway, it happens. Wanna see something really funny, go to multi-lane 4 way stop intersection. Or better still, drive to one of the new "roundabout" intersections and watch the confusion. That is really maddening.

Frustrated driver · 05-03-2007, 05:07 PM

I grew up near Chicago, but I've lived here for most of my life. I realize the unwillingness to budge at green lights & left arrows happens everywhere, but it seems to be multipled times 5 here. What are these sit-still drivers doing that is so important besides picking their noses?

brittZ · 05-03-2007, 05:14 PM

I personally have decided to control the pace of my life and relax. If someone is slower than me, I just feel lucky that I am not at the bottom of the list. Then again my car sucks and maybe I have just learned to live with the inability to go fast or actually out-accelerate a snail. I frequently find myself humming a certain Adam Sandler song! Frustrated Driver, enjoy the superiority of having a car that is capable of going when and how you want it to and a mind that allows you to focus on the task at hand. Both are becomming increasingly rare in our society. I saw a woman making a left turn next to me yesterday (i was also turning left on the inside turn lane) who came into my lane because she was holding something in her right hand, paper and pen in her left, balancing a cell phone on her shoulder, and checking out something in the mirror. i slowed down so as not to be run over and then I laughed because I found it funny that someone could be so absorbed as to not know what was happening around them.

diggitydot · 05-03-2007, 05:26 PM

I think one reason some people might elect to wait a few extra seconds when lights turn green is because there are SOOOOO many red light runners. They may not want to get creamed by the moron going against the light who is also reading a book while simultaneously text messaging someone and doesn't notice that they no longer have the light.

brittZ · 05-03-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggitydot

I think one reason some people might elect to wait a few extra seconds when lights turn green is because there are SOOOOO many red light runners. They may not want to get creamed by the moron going against the light who is also reading a book while simultaneously text messaging someone and doesn't notice that they no longer have the light.

AMEN to that one brother!!

AksarbeN · 05-03-2007, 05:57 PM

One of the things to keep in mind is that many new to the area drivers don’t know about some of our left green arrow lights. Some cities Scottsdale and Tucson (I think) have lagging left arrows, whereas Phoenix and most others have left arrows first.

Who knows which works best for sure? I personally like the lagging left arrow because most of the traffic has cleared the intersection before I need to get into it and make my turn. Also some areas a left turn can be made on the green light without waiting for the left arrow. This really helps out with getting traffic moving.