Are there too many traffic signals?

[5280milehiguy]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I agree with this. But I'd say you can't generalize about "California" or "Denver." In most of central LA there are NO left hand turn signals at all, and since a break in the traffic coming the opposite direction never comes, this forces long pileups of cars all trying to tailgate through the intersection as the light turns red. It can be so bad it can take literally 15 minutes just to turn left. Some really old sections of the city don't even have a left hand turn lane so the entire left lane of traffic gets plugged up waiting for someone to turn left. But in much of the "suburbs" of LA every single intersection, even with minor neighborhood streets is red-arrow left hand turn controlled. This gets overly annoying, as you can end up waiting forever just for the light to turn green again. The best traffic lights I've ever seen in my life are in Irvine, CA. They actually have "smart" lights with sensors such that if you're the only car at an intersection it will automatically turn green just for you before you get there! Nowhere else have I seen anything like that.

Most of the central, old parts of Denver is just as bad as central LA. In fact, maybe even worse. Denver has some really archaic traffic lights that swing down from a wire that look like they haven't been updated since the 1950s. Streets like Monaco are pretty, tree lined drives, but they're also death traps with no median between opposing directions of traffic. And a lot of the unincorporated areas just outside of the Denver city limits have really primitive intersections with signs and lights swinging down from wires (which can really sway when it's windy).

If you live in a city with a grid system, like Denver, or SLC, go straight thru the intersection in the right lane, then right on the first street (or corner parking lot, corner convenience store, etc.) then right again to the main artery you wanted to turn left on, or right on the first street, then another right on the next street that takes you back to the intended artery. I've seen it done soooo many times, and yet you still beat the red left where you began at. I'm not sure what the word is for this, but it does work. Good luck.

P.S. I've also seen the reverse work pretty well, as long as there isn't a center median and not a lot of oncoming traffic. Get in the left lane as you approach said intersection, get in middle turn lane, turn left into say the corner 7-11 lot, then hang a right at the gas pumps, to the exit. Then if traffic is light, make that left onto the main artery. Hmmm, I think this one is for night time or Sundays, may not work during rush hours or mid-day hours. My point is, there are alternatives to a left turn signal.

[Ghostgecko]

Actually, they are different in one way than a TON of cities I've been in and that is in the fact they are not synchronized correctly. Everybody who drives on Wadsworth knows what I mean...

You should not get a green light onto a road, and then get red after red at each intersection...that's what creates traffic backing up...but for some reason the DOT in Denver can't figure that one out...I've never seen lights so badly timed...and this is not the first city I've driven through...

One plus I will mention is that that turn lanes are clearly marked with arrows, and I've seen more than a few people go at the green thinking the arrow changed too. That's because in most places, it does. Again, not here though. But I like the turn lanes here, it's funny how when there's two of them most people can't stay in the lines though, remember when we learned that in kindergarten?

Oh yeah, and why is Denver different in the regard of instead of using bold turn only arrows....they use tiny hard to read signs that tell you that you must turn....NOW! No time to change lanes, as if anyone would let you over. Sometimes, but most of the time, you'll sit there with your signal on for minutes before somebody will.

One thing I miss from growing up in Indiana are signs that tell you when things are coming up, exits coming up a long time ahead. There's almost too many signs so that if you miss your turn, well, you're just not paying attention at all. There are lots of places in Denver that if you are not in the correct lane within 1 mile, you won't get your exit...and again, people won't let you over.

My feelings of Denver driving are well lamented...I shall leave it at that...

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

IThey actually have "smart" lights with sensors such that if you're the only car at an intersection it will automatically turn green just for you before you get there! Nowhere else have I seen anything like that.

I'm not sure if this is everywhere, but going into my neighborhood, I noticed that there is a sensor pad that will give you a green arrow instead of a green light if you stop on it. So, there I am...stopped way back behind the actual line in order to get the pad to sense that there is more than one person there (which isn't true), but it works every time and saves me lots of time waiting for the traffic on Smoky Hill to give me an opening to turn.

Before anyone starts screaming, yes, if someone actually is BEHIND me, I don't do that since they will trip the sensor, but most of the time, it's just me.

And for those who don't like traffic lights, I'll encourage you to go find a 4-way stop and see how well that flows (not). People are idiots and there has to be a way to get traffic to flow. It's either lights, stop signs or letting people use their own "common sense" to dictate when they should turn. You have to pick the lesser of the evils.

[zenkonami]

Roundabouts, ftw =)

(Of course then we'd all have to learn how to properly navigate traffic circles)

[the3Ds]

Originally Posted by zenkonami

Roundabouts, ftw =)

(Of course then we'd all have to learn how to properly navigate traffic circles)

My husband I spent almost 30 minutes on top of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris just watching the craziness that is that traffic circle. Traffic circles only work in places where most use common sense (or they are just used to them because they are all over). Just going to Red Robin in Parker and going through that traffic circle is a mess, and it's tiny.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Ghostgecko

Actually, they are different in one way than a TON of cities I've been in and that is in the fact they are not synchronized correctly. Everybody who drives on Wadsworth knows what I mean...

You should not get a green light onto a road, and then get red after red at each intersection...that's what creates traffic backing up...but for some reason the DOT in Denver can't figure that one out...I've never seen lights so badly timed...and this is not the first city I've driven through...

One plus I will mention is that that turn lanes are clearly marked with arrows, and I've seen more than a few people go at the green thinking the arrow changed too. That's because in most places, it does. Again, not here though. But I like the turn lanes here, it's funny how when there's two of them most people can't stay in the lines though, remember when we learned that in kindergarten?

Oh yeah, and why is Denver different in the regard of instead of using bold turn only arrows....they use tiny hard to read signs that tell you that you must turn....NOW! No time to change lanes, as if anyone would let you over. Sometimes, but most of the time, you'll sit there with your signal on for minutes before somebody will.

One thing I miss from growing up in Indiana are signs that tell you when things are coming up, exits coming up a long time ahead. There's almost too many signs so that if you miss your turn, well, you're just not paying attention at all. There are lots of places in Denver that if you are not in the correct lane within 1 mile, you won't get your exit...and again, people won't let you over.
My feelings of Denver driving are well lamented...I shall leave it at that...

Agree with the bolded paragraph. Also, "this exit" and "next exit" are sometimes used interchangeably. You see a sign near an exit (on a freeway) that says "Your turn, next exit", and think it means the one after this one, when lo and behold, no! You just passed your exit. At least that's what happened to me when I first came here from Illinois. Occosionally, though, next exit does mean the exit after the one you are closest too, so it gets confusing. Generally, if you learn the "quirks" of the roads you use the most, you'll be OK. Just don't get on a strange road. And yes, people don't want to let you over.

[ramanboy33]

Has anyone here ever driven in Seattle? In certain parts of town there (Capital Hill for one), they have two traffic-light poles - one on either far side of the road (pretty much on the sidewalks) - and that's it. I've run several red lights not realizing there were traffic signals at the intersection.

[5280milehiguy]

Originally Posted by ramanboy33

Has anyone here ever driven in Seattle? In certain parts of town there (Capital Hill for one), they have two traffic-light poles - one on either far side of the road (pretty much on the sidewalks) - and that's it. I've run several red lights not realizing there were traffic signals at the intersection.

Don't dare drive in D.C. then. Very few of downtown signals are above the roadway.

[edesign]

Add parts of New Orleans to that list...

Originally Posted by Katiana

ou see a sign near an exit (on a freeway) that says "Your turn, next exit", and think it means the one after this one, when lo and behold, no! You just passed your exit.

Actually..."next exit" means the next one you see,not the one following the one you are coming up on.
next definition | Dictionary.com

GhostGecko...if people won't let you in (never had that problem myself) you have two options:

1) Take the next exit and double-back

2) Force your way in, use your turn signal to indicate what you are GOING to do, not what you WANT to do...people WILL use their brakes, trust me Last resort though, especially if you've been signaling for at least 1/4 mile. Works every time for me in any city I've been in. Sure, you might get flipped the bird or honked at but you won't miss your exit!