Ok, leaving 2-4 spaces in front of your car at stoplights has gotten out of hand... (living, cars)

[Tominftl]

Originally Posted by asufan

Try tapping their bumper

Really? Not a good idea!

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Please:

1.) Sticky thread for weather

2.) Sticky thread for traffic

Any way to increase the # of stickies per forum? If no, and since these topics are so popular, replace one of the current sticky's with 1.) and/or 2.)?

Pretty please?

Sticky? Auto-delete this crap.

[madison999]

Originally Posted by Bungle

Sticky? Auto-delete this crap.

What exactly is your problem with some concern regarding how people drive locally?

[Bungle]

Originally Posted by madison999

What exactly is your problem with some concern regarding how people drive locally?

People complaining and venting about local driving gets posted ad nauseam and accomplishes nothing.

[madison999]

I just looked through the first two pages and saw nothing else.

Is it too hard to not click?

[AZ Manager]

Originally Posted by sexxxcblac

I have to say 2 things Arizona drivers are absolute the best on planet earth are....
1) Not blocking the intersection in case of emergency vehicles.
They can't do anything else right but they sure can do that...and I always go right around them.
2) Waiting until the pedestrians completely leave exit the walk lane before turning right.
It can be 1 person on the other side of the street and these people just sit there.
Unbelievable.

You are living in the land of the transplants and some states require people to stop if a pedestrian is in the crosswalk at any point. Getting upset over a lost 10 seconds isn't really worth it though is it? Unless you are trying to save someone's life you aren't that important, calm down.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by stevek64

Please:

1.) Sticky thread for weather

2.) Sticky thread for traffic

Any way to increase the # of stickies per forum? If no, and since these topics are so popular, replace one of the current sticky's with 1.) and/or 2.)?

Pretty please?

Unfortunately, that would make too much sense Steve. All that would do would cut down on the number of useless weather related threads. No, instead lets maintain a sticky of natives reminiscing about the AZ of their childhood since that carries so much value.

[ScottsdaleMark]

Originally Posted by AZ Manager

You are living in the land of the transplants and some states require people to stop if a pedestrian is in the crosswalk at any point. Getting upset over a lost 10 seconds isn't really worth it though is it? Unless you are trying to save someone's life you aren't that important, calm down.

I know this is the case in California. I believe if there's a pedestrian median / island you only have to wait until they reach that point.

I searched the state laws at AZLeg (ARS 28-972) and this is the closest thing I could find to address this issue. It appears in AZ you may only have to let them get to the other half of the road before you can go:

"Except as provided in section 28-793, subsection B, if traffic control signals are not in place or are not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be in order to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. A pedestrian shall not suddenly leave any curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield."

Also, semi-relevant from 28-793:

"A. A pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the roadway.

B. A pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the roadway.

C. Between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk."

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by madison999

So apparently (?) the main reason for people doing this is to trigger the traffic light sensors...? I guess?

Ok I get it at little side streets and small intersection but at major crossroads people are doing this now. Ones where this is plenty of traffic that you don't need to stay back to trigger sensors because there are plenty of cars.

I've seen a couple of near wrecks because of this in the last few weeks. The problem seems to be the cars going straight jam up/impede access to the turn lanes, and also when there are a couple of lights with not much distance between them, stopping prematurely to leave all these spaces stops the traffic right behind them and then those cars are stuck in the middle of the road with no where to go and cars coming right at them.

Compounded by the fact that the ones who leave these spaces in front of them NEVER seem to be paying attention so they miss lights or run red when people start honking at them. Just a reflection of what I'm seeing mainly in Tempe and Scottsdale.

Hey, when I get a green left arrow and have to stop in the middle of the road due to it being backed up by cars leaving spaces and cars behind them being hung out to dry it's not only annoying but dangerous. And the ones causing it are always always always on their cell phones.

Is this just an east valley thing or what?

Mostly. Presuming you are talking about left turn bays, Phoenix hates and has always hated left turn signals. They refused to put them in for years until public outrage demanded it. But it was half hearted. So they often come on only if there is more than one car detected by the strips in the pavement. People have learned this and hang back over the strip to force a left arrow for themselves. In the west valley like where I live, they LOVE left turn signals. They turn on half the time even when there is no one in the bay and it is rare that they cut off until everyone, even cars that are still 100 yards away and approaching have completed the turn. The detection in these new-fangled intersections is done with overhead motion sensors rather than road strips.

[jaredC]

Originally Posted by sexxxcblac

I have to say 2 things Arizona drivers are absolute the best on planet earth are....
1) Not blocking the intersection in case of emergency vehicles.
They can't do anything else right but they sure can do that...and I always go right around them.
2) Waiting until the pedestrians completely leave exit the walk lane before turning right.
It can be 1 person on the other side of the street and these people just sit there.
Unbelievable.

Yea. Number 2 is infuriating. It's like, COME ON!!! they are ON THE OPPOSITE END OF THE STREET FOR F SAKE!! GO!!!!