San Diego traffic worse than it's ever been? (El Cajon, Greenfield: tax, safe)

[RosieSD]

Originally Posted by JohnAlt

Just out of curiousity, do you think he was in any danger? Not excusing the move, but sometimes there isn't another car in a mile radius and I'll get stuck at a light. Sometimes it seems traffic signals are programmed to impede traffic flow not enhance it.

In today's case, this was a very busy 4 way intersection (2nd and Broadway) in El Cajon in broad daylight. The streets at that intersection are 4 lanes across (2 in each direction). On the side of the intersection we were on, at least six or seven cars were stopped for the light. Cars were coming through going in the other direction. He was at the head of the line, stopped, saw an opening in oncoming traffic going with the green, and accelerated and drove right through the red light.

So, no, this wasn't like a lonely road late at night where there are no other cars for miles and waiting for a red light might seem optional.

And, for that matter, neither were any of the other instances of this I've seen in the last year.

[JohnAlt]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

In today's case, this was a very busy 4 way intersection (2nd and Broadway) in El Cajon in broad daylight. The streets at that intersection are 4 lanes across (2 in each direction). On the side of the intersection we were on, at least six or seven cars were stopped for the light. Cars were coming through going in the other direction. He was at the head of the line, stopped, saw an opening in oncoming traffic going with the green, and accelerated and drove right through the red light.

I know the intersection well. No excuse for that.

[eastcoastbias]

I think most of the problems can be chalked up to distracted driving. Issue that takes place anywhere, but it could be worse here because enforcement is weak. Unfortunately, loads of folks can't walk talk and chew gum at the same time. So connecting a phone call or texting on a phone while driving on some of the confusing interchanges and additional traffic these days- this can't be done by a lot of folks. One of these tasks alone cause issues now combine them??

I've said this before, it's very easy to get frustrated driving here. You have roads getting more congested. You have very little enforcement so aggressive people remain aggressive on the roads with little fear of being ticketed. You have poor infrastructure which leads to folks that aren't physically equipped to handle highways speeds and driving that can't avoid highway. Add to fact you have loads of SD newbies or tourists that don't know where they are going or first time visitors to certain areas. Then you have folks blending their experience in Japan, Oklahoma, New York, etc. all with different experience styles and previous road rules of their previous stop meeting on the road together. These are all perfect storms.

The one behavior that is alarming are folks cutting over multiple lanes some even stopping on the highway so they don't miss an exit. It's selfish and extremely dangerous. Proceed forward and get off at the next exit if you cannot safely get over. And USE YOuR TURN SIGNAL. Turn signals aren't optional.

[hitman619]

Originally Posted by eastcoastbias

I think most of the problems can be chalked up to distracted driving. Issue that takes place anywhere, but it could be worse here because enforcement is weak. Unfortunately, loads of folks can't walk talk and chew gum at the same time. So connecting a phone call or texting on a phone while driving on some of the confusing interchanges and additional traffic these days- this can't be done by a lot of folks. One of these tasks alone cause issues now combine them??

I've said this before, it's very easy to get frustrated driving here. You have roads getting more congested. You have very little enforcement so aggressive people remain aggressive on the roads with little fear of being ticketed. You have poor infrastructure which leads to folks that aren't physically equipped to handle highways speeds and driving that can't avoid highway. Add to fact you have loads of SD newbies or tourists that don't know where they are going or first time visitors to certain areas. Then you have folks blending their experience in Japan, Oklahoma, New York, etc. all with different experience styles and previous road rules of their previous stop meeting on the road together. These are all perfect storms.

The one behavior that is alarming are folks cutting over multiple lanes some even stopping on the highway so they don't miss an exit. It's selfish and extremely dangerous. Proceed forward and get off at the next exit if you cannot safely get over. And USE YOuR TURN SIGNAL. Turn signals aren't optional.

Preach Brotha Preach!

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by elchevere

Maybe they weren't honking at you..maybe they were honking at the daydreaming pedestrians who weren't paying attention to the traffic signal and were crossing or already in an intersection when they shouldn't have been (sounds like you and the car behind you had the green light, not the jaywalking pedestrians)...not saying you should have run the pedestrians over either--but traffic laws apply to pedestrians as much as they apply to motorists and bicyclists. ...a couple of my friends received jaywalking tickets in downtown...and when I have been in the situation of jaywalking when I am in an intersection with a car approaching, I tend to move my ass a little faster--be it cities or rural Missouri.

Oh he was honking at me cause he was up my @ss for about 2 blocks cause I didn't feel like a speeding ticket. I was turning right, they were crossing just fine and by law I had to wait for them to clear. This scholar was honking at me when they were in the middle of four lanes. Not my problem richard head can't plan his travel day.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by RosieSD

OK, this is getting out of hand. Today, I saw another guy stop at a red light and then - after stopping and looking around - just drive right through the light as if the red light didn't apply to him.

That's 8 or 9 times now in the last year that I've seen this happen.

It's just nuts! I hate red light cameras, but I'm starting to see why they may be a good idea.

I've always liked them because of the intersections I have to cross. Without them people will just run it because they don't want to sit through a light cycle. That and I ride so it made it so much safer. Not now, you have to wait about a 5 count for the speeders that think they can blast through before the light. One of the worst ones is Gennessee and Mesa College (Not sure the street) but they blow that light at about 70 mph. Those students getting off the bus don't pay attention and when it turns green they just walk across glued to their phones.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by JohnAlt

Just out of curiousity, do you think he was in any danger? Not excusing the move, but sometimes there isn't another car in a mile radius and I'll get stuck at a light. Sometimes it seems traffic signals are programmed to impede traffic flow not enhance it.

Every light needs sensors. Sometimes I make a right, u-turn, then make another right just to keep going and not have to wait.

Originally Posted by RosieSD

In today's case, this was a very busy 4 way intersection (2nd and Broadway) in El Cajon in broad daylight. The streets at that intersection are 4 lanes across (2 in each direction). On the side of the intersection we were on, at least six or seven cars were stopped for the light. Cars were coming through going in the other direction. He was at the head of the line, stopped, saw an opening in oncoming traffic going with the green, and accelerated and drove right through the red light.

So, no, this wasn't like a lonely road late at night where there are no other cars for miles and waiting for a red light might seem optional.

And, for that matter, neither were any of the other instances of this I've seen in the last year.

But I meant middle of the night, early morning scenarios. This situation right here is completely different and dangerous

[stablegenius]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

One of the worst ones is Gennessee and Mesa College (Not sure the street) but they blow that light at about 70 mph. Those students getting off the bus don't pay attention and when it turns green they just walk across glued to their phones.

I know that light well. Used to live up the street from there. Yeah people are ridiculous. Riding in SD is almost a deathwish. Very scary. People are such jerks and don't pay attention to motorcycles at all. It's even worse in Orlando. I used to ride a scooter in San Diego and it was bad enough. In Orlando, it would be even scarier, at least in the metro area.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by garek007

I know that light well. Used to live up the street from there. Yeah people are ridiculous. Riding in SD is almost a deathwish. Very scary. People are such jerks and don't pay attention to motorcycles at all. It's even worse in Orlando. I used to ride a scooter in San Diego and it was bad enough. In Orlando, it would be even scarier, at least in the metro area.

As you note, where you live doesn't really make it any better if in a big popular area. Where a person lives does not make them a better person or behave better.

Personally I would love not just red light cameras but what they have in England, which are cameras along the road that ticket people speeding as well. Lets see if we can get the idiots to wise up even if just thinking of their own wallet. Obviously they do not care about other people.

[BBslider001]

Originally Posted by expatCA

As you note, where you live doesn't really make it any better if in a big popular area. Where a person lives does not make them a better person or behave better.

Personally I would love not just red light cameras but what they have in England, which are cameras along the road that ticket people speeding as well. Lets see if we can get the idiots to wise up even if just thinking of their own wallet. Obviously they do not care about other people.

Personally I would love it if people would just be responsible for their own chitty behavior and not have to stoop to socialist practices to keep poeple accountable, but that's just me. More gubbament interference does not a safe society make.