Why don't Los Angeles drivers know how to handle a non operating traffic signal (Belmont: live in, dangerous)

[JohnG72]

I've encountered this a few times in power outages.

The traffic signal at an intersection is not working. So it simply becomes a four way stop. Yet most Angelenos seem to completely ignore this and drive through without even paying attention. And that's extremely dangerous.

It's an infrequent occurrence, but fairly basic rule of the road.

[Pacifico]

It's Just the nature and style of driving in LA. People in a rush generally no time for dilly dallying. It's the opposite here in GA. Here you come to a stop at a four way stop intersection and nobody wants to proceed. Each driver is overly cautious, waiting indefinitely for the other driver to go first.

[TheGreatUnwashed]

John,

i haven't yet encountered what you described. what i generally see in these situations is everyone going out of turn, e.g., back to back cars going from the same side, a timid person sitting there causing other people to jump the gun, etc.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by JohnG72

I've encountered this a few times in power outages.

The traffic signal at an intersection is not working. So it simply becomes a four way stop. Yet most Angelenos seem to completely ignore this and drive through without even paying attention. And that's extremely dangerous.

It's an infrequent occurrence, but fairly basic rule of the road.

Sounds more like a mixture of highly inexperienced young drivers and FOBs.

Once you get a critical mass of people blowing through, everyone else follows suit.

What's even worse is when there is a clearly marked 4 way stop:


The Belmont Stop - People Behaving Badly - YouTube

Can't ascribe this to what I wrote above, this one is pure SOBness.

[2Easy]

Most people treat it as a four way stop, except the a-holes that don't wait their turn. But if there isn't much traffic, people may not realize that the light is out and just blow through it.

[maggie2101]

This happens in every city everywhere -- doesn't matter where. I grew up in LA and now live in Houston. No big difference as far as bad driving is concerned. Idiots live and drive all over the world.

[DontH8Me]

LA drivers can't even deal with a light drizzle on a fwy, you expect them to behave in intersecting surface streets? LOL :P

[ccm123]

Many drivers in LA are very aggressive and do not pay any attention to their surrondings. They just "rush, rush, rush".

[Count David]

Well, as a Southern CA native, imagine my confusion upon pulling into Cheyenne, WY one night and seeing every stoplight flashing yellow.

What do you do when that happens?

Spoiler

Just an example of the ignorance that persists in the world.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

Well, as a Southern CA native, imagine my confusion upon pulling into Cheyenne, WY one night and seeing every stoplight flashing yellow.

That happened to me late at night in Missouri once. "Well, there's no one else around so I guess I'll just go real slow."