Comment by addicted

Comment by addicted 5 days ago

Except the article doesn’t claim what the drivers are doing is illegal.

The article says that the street design causes drivers to speed up and makes the intersections unsafe.

Instead of drivers always stopping, or at the very least slowing down, when approaching the intersection, the new street design leads to drivers speeding up when approaching the intersection.

This is bad design for pedestrians irrespective of whether the driver jumps a light, the pedestrians cross when they shouldn’t be, or neither of them are doing anything wrong.

It will increase the odds of collisions, injuries and possibly fatalities.

nirvdrum 5 days ago

> Except the article doesn’t claim what the drivers are doing is illegal.

The article states “… and I captured two drivers ripping through red lights in that short span.” I suppose “ripping through” can be left up to interpretation.

However, in the video the author says “that person just ran a stop… a red light right in the middle of me filming.” Then the other he says: “I bet this guy runs the light. Yup, see, this person ran the light, too.”

“Running” a red light is an illegal act.

I think in both cases the cars should have slowed down and had plenty of time to stop before entering the intersection. But, evidently that’s legal in California, while the author indicates otherwise.

Reply View 8 replies

cptskippy 5 days ago

> The article states “… and I captured two drivers ripping through red lights in that short span.” I suppose “ripping through” can be left up to interpretation.
There really isn't enough information given to make a determination.
It looks like two of the vehicles traveling on Lemon "jump" due to a ridge in the middle of the intersection but that itself isn't an indication of speeding.

Reply View | 0 replies
horsawlarway 5 days ago

I don't know if California has a different law, but at least in my state it is very much illegal to accelerate into a yellow light.
Enforcement is basically non-existent, but it's absolutely "running the light" and "breaking the law" to accelerate into yellow lights.

Reply View | 6 replies
- toast0 5 days ago
  
  California law does not address accelerating on a yellow. The driver's handbook (which is not the law) says
  > A yellow traffic signal light means CAUTION. The light is about to turn red. When you see a yellow traffic signal light, stop, if you can do so safely. If you cannot stop safely, cautiously cross the intersection.
  The bright line rule is not to enter the intersection on a red light, defined as crossing the stop line if present, crossing the first line of a pedestrian crossing if present, or actually entering the intersection if there are no lines.
  
  Reply View | 1 reply
  
  [removed] 5 days ago
  
  [deleted]
  
  Reply View | 0 replies
- xiphias2 5 days ago
  
  I don't know USA, but in other parts of the world yellow and red are different colors.
  Just because 2 things are illegal they aren't the same, and it takes away all seriousness from the article for me.
  
  Reply View | 3 replies
  
  horsawlarway 5 days ago
  
  Genuinely - why do you care?
  His point is absolutely correct - the cars used to stop, and now instead they're accelerating to beat a light change.
  I genuinely don't know if that's actually illegal in cali - but it definitely is in several states, and you'll get ticketed for failing to stop for a red light.
  ---
  > but in other parts of the world yellow and red are different colors.
  Yellow is the light that means "start stopping" and red is the one that means "absolutely stop". Neither damn color is the "go faster" color.
  
  Reply View | 2 replies

cortesoft 5 days ago

The video and article specifically said these cars “ran the red light”, which they absolutely did not do.

Reply View 6 replies

micromacrofoot 5 days ago

you're supposed to slow down at a yellow to prepare to stop, not speed up to get through it, increasing speed through an intersection is inherently dangerous
the author's point is valid and we're falling into pedantry

Reply View | 5 replies
- cortesoft 5 days ago
  
  It depends on how far from the intersection you are. If you can’t stop before the intersection, you shouldn’t slow down because you need to get through the intersection in time.
  Those cars didn’t have time to stop safely. They would have had to slam on the breaks, which is very dangerous because the car behind you might not stop in time. Speeding up to get through in time is the right decision if you are very close to the intersection when the light turns yellow.
  
  Reply View | 4 replies
  
  micromacrofoot 5 days ago
  
  Speeding up is only the right decision because it's a poorly designed intersection.
  
  Reply View | 3 replies