Ran a red light

[Morris Minor]

I'd just left work. Tired & distracted.
Stopped at a red light.
Light turned to green & I moved off.
The guy in the lane next to me tooted the horn.
I thought, "What's wrong with that idiot?"
Realized that the green had been a left turn arrow for the lane next to me. But my brain had registered "Green, let's go."
Lucky that nobody was opposite making a turn across me on his green arrow.
Oh dear... I'd smugly thought I was a good attentive driver.
A reminder that, like stop signs, red lights do nothing to stop you. They don't make you engage & negotiate intersections.

[Byteme]

Realized that the green had been a left turn arrow for the lane next to me. But my brain had registered "Green, let's go."

Criminal.          

[dazzleman]

We all make mistakes like that every so often.

[bing_oh]

Criminal.          

He's much more than a simply criminal. He's an anarchist scofflaw! Off with his head!

[FoMoJo]

I'd just left work. Tired & distracted.
Stopped at a red light.
Light turned to green & I moved off.
The guy in the lane next to me tooted the horn.
I thought, "What's wrong with that idiot?"
Realized that the green had been a left turn arrow for the lane next to me. But my brain had registered "Green, let's go."
Lucky that nobody was opposite making a turn across me on his green arrow.
Oh dear... I'd smugly thought I was a good attentive driver.
A reminder that, like stop signs, red lights do nothing to stop you. They don't make you engage & negotiate intersections.

Sounds like rap lyrics...minus the profanity.

[AutobahnSHO]

I see false starts like that all the time now- people with their noses buried in their phone see the guy next to them go so they let off the brake but look up and realize it's still red for their lane.....

[FlatBlackCaddy]

We all make mistakes like that every so often.

No......no we don't.

It's clearly a sign of being too old to drive. He should turn in his license to the authorities immediately.

[dazzleman]

No......no we don't.

It's clearly a sign of being too old to drive. He should turn in his license to the authorities immediately.

[68_427]

I'm surprised Dave can even tell the colors on traffic lights anymore.

[Soup DeVille]

I'm surprised Dave can even tell the colors on traffic lights anymore.

That's why red is always on top.

[AutobahnSHO]

That's why red is always on top.

what about those weird sideways traffic lights???

[Morris Minor]

No......no we don't.

It's clearly a sign of being too old to drive. He should turn in his license to the authorities immediately.

That thought has crossed my mind. I think you're at your peak driving abilities in your late-30s - mid-40s - stamina, experience & mental agility intersect to maximum effect.

[FoMoJo]

That thought has crossed my mind. I think you're at your peak driving abilities in your late-30s - mid-40s - stamina, experience & mental agility intersect to maximum effect.

Perhaps, but Parnelli Jones, at the age of 81, is, likely, still a more capable driver than most people of any age.

[68_427]

Perhaps, but Parnelli Jones, at the age of 81, is, likely, still a more capable driver than most people of any age.

We'll see how competent he is when he hits Dave's age.

[Raza]

I'd just left work. Tired & distracted.
Stopped at a red light.
Light turned to green & I moved off.
The guy in the lane next to me tooted the horn.
I thought, "What's wrong with that idiot?"
Realized that the green had been a left turn arrow for the lane next to me. But my brain had registered "Green, let's go."
Lucky that nobody was opposite making a turn across me on his green arrow.
Oh dear... I'd smugly thought I was a good attentive driver.
A reminder that, like stop signs, red lights do nothing to stop you. They don't make you engage & negotiate intersections.

Strict liability crime. 

[Soup DeVille]

what about those weird sideways traffic lights???

Still, technically on the top.

I've only ever seen those in places like Chicago- to clear under the L trains and such
Those fuckers don't pay attention to the lights anyways.

[Morris Minor]

I took a look at the light setup on the way home last night. The left turn light is not a green arrow as these are everywhere else in this state that I recall: it is just a regular green light, so I think they messed up when they put in the new lights a few weeks ago.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I took a look at the light setup on the way home last night. The left turn light is not a green arrow as these are everywhere else in this state that I recall: it is just a regular green light, so I think they messed up when they put in the new lights a few weeks ago.

mmhmmm

[FlatBlackCaddy]

[Morris Minor]

[Raza]

[FlatBlackCaddy]

[MaxPower]

and i just got back from a fatal scene where...some ran a stop sign and got obliterated by oncoming traffic.

So now I'm the debbie downer of this thread.

[FoMoJo]

and i just got back from a fatal scene where...some ran a stop sign and got obliterated by oncoming traffic.

So now I'm the debbie downer of this thread.

Just to clarify...you're the prosecutor, are you?

[Morris Minor]

and i just got back from a fatal scene where...some ran a stop sign and got obliterated by oncoming traffic.

So now I'm the debbie downer of this thread.

Stop sign & red light controlled intersections are inherently a dangerous way to control traffic.

[dazzleman]

Stop sign & red light controlled intersections are inherently a dangerous way to control traffic.

We can't put an overpass at every major intersection.

[dazzleman]

and i just got back from a fatal scene where...some ran a stop sign and got obliterated by oncoming traffic.

So now I'm the debbie downer of this thread.

That's terrible, Jeff.  Sorry to hear it.

[MaxPower]

Just to clarify...you're the prosecutor, are you?

Yep. There were some extenuating circumstances so they called me out.

That's terrible, Jeff.  Sorry to hear it.

C'est le vie.  Not the first for me, won't be the last, and it's part of the job.

[Morris Minor]

We can't put an overpass at every major intersection.

I'd like to see them replaced with roundabouts where feasible. I don't subscribe to the school of thought that American drivers, uniquely in the world, are too stupid to use them.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I'd like to see them replaced with roundabouts where feasible. I don't subscribe to the school of thought that American drivers, uniquely in the world, are too stupid to use them.

Observations seem to prove otherwise, sadly.

The roundabout is a superior form of traffic control for most intersections.