Obeying Traffic Lights Is Actually Compulsory…
15/04/08 21:03 Filed in: General
Nonsense
Driving around as much
as I do, you really get to realise the cavalier
approach so many Irish road users have to traffic
lights. For cyclists, the code is "Green: Go; Amber:
Go; Red: Go." Pedestrians seem to think that they are
there just to add some colour to the streetscape.
But it is the
motorist who is often the worst offender. Frequently
I pull up at lights just gone red and one or two
vehicles in the neighbouring lanes will go through
the red light. Lads, there's only one shade of red!
Another is the left or right turn filter. Some
junctions have specific signals for left or right
turns, and when you approach the junction the signal
may be green to go forward and red to go left or
right. But to some drivers, these red lights are
discretionary. I have seen cars, vans, taxis and even
buses break these lights, often crossing a green
pedestrian light in the process.
Speaking of pedestrian lights, some drivers seem to be of the opinion that these don't actually count as traffic lights at all. Just this morning, I was on my way into Dublin, when I stopped at the red light of a pedestrian crossing. A woman and her two kids were just about to set foot on the road to cross when a truck sailed through the red light. A second later and they would have been run over.
Speaking of pedestrian lights, some drivers seem to be of the opinion that these don't actually count as traffic lights at all. Just this morning, I was on my way into Dublin, when I stopped at the red light of a pedestrian crossing. A woman and her two kids were just about to set foot on the road to cross when a truck sailed through the red light. A second later and they would have been run over.