And NoVA wonders why I hesitate when the light turns green; (rant) - Northern Virginia - Virginia - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

The Dissenter · 08-19-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legs1357

I've had a close call like that as well but at that point I was not in the habit of pausing. Something that day though told me not to go and I just didn't, I have no idea why, and sure enough somebody blew through the light at 50+ mph. Glad you're okay.

I was kind of not in the habit of pausing either but after today that will change.

kevinm · 08-19-2009, 12:14 PM

The red light runners assume that you will hesitate at the light. If a few more pulled out on them, they would finally get the message.

oneasterisk · 08-19-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinm

The red light runners assume that you will hesitate at the light. If a few more pulled out on them, they would finally get the message.

Are you offering your services? And they say chivalry is dead!

It's always a good idea to drive defensively in any area you're in. Riding a motorcycle, you kind of learn how or Darwin takes you out of the equation...

TechlawyerinPG · 08-20-2009, 08:22 AM

I had this happen to me in DC. Someone ran a red when I had a green I ran into her side. No one stopped to be witnesses and no police around. We moved the cars as we were in a busy intersection in the heart of rush hour. Insurance deemed that she was not at fault so I got dinged on my insurance with $500 in damage to my car.

scottfs · 08-20-2009, 11:38 AM

I always look and if I can't see I'll inch out slowly until i can see that it's clear. When I was a kid, my mom was driving my sister and me and we got broadsided by a Cadillac driven by an illegal immigrant with no insurance who was going 50-60mph. Light had turned green and there was a big van in the lane next to my mom so she couldn't see, the van started to go but it stopped but by the time my mom realized it was too late. Fortunately we were in a gigantic old Pontiac Bonneville and not some compact econo-can-car.

eyeball · 08-20-2009, 01:10 PM

I have no problem with anyone being reasonably cautious. One or two seconds? Fine. More than that becomes annoying. Would it kill you to keep your head on a swivel looking left and right so that, when the light does turn green, you've already made an assessment of whether to go or stay depending on whether traffic appears to be stopping or not? Good situational awareness is much better than arbitrary wait times, and it's much less likely to **** people off.

Ashburnite · 08-20-2009, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeball

I have no problem with anyone being reasonably cautious. One or two seconds? Fine. More than that becomes annoying. Would it kill you to keep your head on a swivel looking left and right so that, when the light does turn green, you've already made an assessment of whether to go or stay depending on whether traffic appears to be stopping or not? Good situational awareness is much better than arbitrary wait times, and it's much less likely to **** people off.

Which comes back to my point about looking both ways before crossing streets. Most of us probably just watch the traffic light and when we see green we go but it's always best to look both ways first to make sure the idiot on the cell phone while playing with the satellite radio isn't going to run the light.

scottfs · 08-20-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashburnite

Which comes back to my point about looking both ways before crossing streets. Most of us probably just watch the traffic light and when we see green we go but it's always best to look both ways first to make sure the idiot on the cell phone while playing with the satellite radio isn't going to run the light.

I had a guy on a cell phone yesterday nearly change lanes into my hood. Ironically, the sticker on his rear window read "Hang up and drive".

ajzjmsmom · 08-20-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyeball

I have no problem with anyone being reasonably cautious. One or two seconds? Fine. More than that becomes annoying. Would it kill you to keep your head on a swivel looking left and right so that, when the light does turn green, you've already made an assessment of whether to go or stay depending on whether traffic appears to be stopping or not? Good situational awareness is much better than arbitrary wait times, and it's much less likely to **** people off.

I will just **** people off, what are they going to do yell at me, throw me the finger? At least my car and mine and my kids bodies will be in one piece. To many people are to busy on their phones, thinking about getting somewhere that they just don't pay attention. Your logic about keeping your head on a swivel would be okay except most people that blow thru red lights and cross walks come out of nowhere.