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General discussionworst national traits of your country(233 posts)(233 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted December 28, 2015
Maybe I've mentioned this before too...

Since people are talking about traffic lights etc. in different countries... I am probably in a minority here, but it doesn't make sense to me that in many countries, even if you have red lights, you are allowed (supposed) to drive if you are turning right (or left in Asian countries).

Of the countries where I've driven, this was the case at least in Canada and Thailand. Do most countries have the same, and how do you know if this is the case?

In Finland we don't have that as far as I know. If you have red lights, then you don't drive, no matter if you are going to turn left or right or straight ahead. You wait until the lights are green for your lane, and only then you proceed. Naturally if you have separate traffic lights for turning lanes, then you follow those.

One Canadian told me that why shouldn't you be able to turn right on red lights, if there are no cars coming from the left. Ok, but then should I also be allowed to turn left or go straigth on red lights, in case there are no cars coming from other directions either?

I don't know... it just doesn't make much sense to me. I just prefer the more straightforward "you don't drive through red lights", with no exceptions. Easier to remember and less nasty surprises for people who are driving on green lights, and no one pushes in between thinking they can make it, even though they have red lights.
Posted December 28, 2015
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timppu: Maybe I've mentioned this before too...

Since people are talking about traffic lights etc. in different countries... I am probably in a minority here, but it doesn't make sense to me that in many countries, even if you have red lights, you are allowed (supposed) to drive if you are turning right (or left in Asian countries).

Of the countries where I've driven, this was the case at least in Canada and Thailand. Do most countries have the same, and how do you know if this is the case?

In Finland we don't have that as far as I know. If you have red lights, then you don't drive, no matter if you are going to turn left or right or straight ahead. You wait until the lights are green for your lane, and only then you proceed. Naturally if you have separate traffic lights for turning lanes, then you follow those.

One Canadian told me that why shouldn't you be able to turn right on red lights, if there are no cars coming from the left. Ok, but then should I also be allowed to turn left or go straigth on red lights, in case there are no cars coming from other directions either?

I don't know... it just doesn't make much sense to me. I just prefer the more straightforward "you don't drive through red lights", with no exceptions. Easier to remember and less nasty surprises for people who are driving on green lights, and no one pushes in between thinking they can make it, even though they have red lights.
In the States it depends on the street. Fortunately they usually post a sign telling you if you can turn right on red or not.
Posted December 28, 2015
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timppu: Maybe I've mentioned this before too...

Since people are talking about traffic lights etc. in different countries... I am probably in a minority here, but it doesn't make sense to me that in many countries, even if you have red lights, you are allowed (supposed) to drive if you are turning right (or left in Asian countries).
Over here, as far as I know, it's also okay to turn left if you are turning onto a one way road. Also sometimes it's a huge pain if there are say some bushes blocking your view of the road to your left and then people start honking at you if you wait for the light to turn green.
Posted December 28, 2015
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timppu: Maybe I've mentioned this before too...

Since people are talking about traffic lights etc. in different countries... I am probably in a minority here, but it doesn't make sense to me that in many countries, even if you have red lights, you are allowed (supposed) to drive if you are turning right (or left in Asian countries).

Of the countries where I've driven, this was the case at least in Canada and Thailand. Do most countries have the same, and how do you know if this is the case?

In Finland we don't have that as far as I know. If you have red lights, then you don't drive, no matter if you are going to turn left or right or straight ahead. You wait until the lights are green for your lane, and only then you proceed. Naturally if you have separate traffic lights for turning lanes, then you follow those.

One Canadian told me that why shouldn't you be able to turn right on red lights, if there are no cars coming from the left. Ok, but then should I also be allowed to turn left or go straigth on red lights, in case there are no cars coming from other directions either?

I don't know... it just doesn't make much sense to me. I just prefer the more straightforward "you don't drive through red lights", with no exceptions. Easier to remember and less nasty surprises for people who are driving on green lights, and no one pushes in between thinking they can make it, even though they have red lights.
Its even worse in Montreal.
All provinces adopted the law where you are allowed to turn right on red unless otherwise specified (just like in the states)...except Montreal....the city where i live.
So in Montreal red light means red light, you just stop.
Problem is once you are out of Montreal, people will start honking you if you dont turn right on red....and since im a service technician on the road all the time this is very confusing cuz there is no efin sign telling you are out of Montreal so you can ignore the red light now :P
Post edited December 28, 2015 by kaboro
Posted December 28, 2015
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timppu: I don't know... it just doesn't make much sense to me. I just prefer the more straightforward "you don't drive through red lights", with no exceptions. Easier to remember and less nasty surprises for people who are driving on green lights, and no one pushes in between thinking they can make it, even though they have red lights.
You can only turn right here if an added green arrow on the side of the traffic lights pointing to the right turns on while red is still on. Eitherway the fine for driving through red light is very high (300€) so most people drive accordingly.
Posted December 28, 2015
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Matruchus: You can only turn right here if an added green arrow on the side of the traffic lights pointing to the right turns on while red is still on.
That's the same here (that's what I meant by lights for your lane, e.g. if you are on a turning lane and have a separate light for that).

I've also seen some intersections here where they have build a separate junction way for the cars turning right, so that they don't have to wait for the lights. That's then a separate thing because that junction joins the crossing road only after the lights.
Post edited December 28, 2015 by timppu
Posted December 28, 2015
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kaboro: Now that you guys mentioned it, ive actually seen that occasionally here in Canada, only seen trucks doing it and very rarely.
I didnt know it meant something, but yeah the truck did that after i let him pass.
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tinyE: Hey kaboro, little OT here, but the last time I was in Winnipeg I noticed the traffic lights go yellow before a red and a green. Is that true throughout Canada? It seems odd to me because it's kind of like telling the drivers to get ready to slam on the gas. :P
That's also common in most of Europe. Works as a heads up to shift into first gear. Manual transmissions and all that.
Posted December 28, 2015
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timppu: Since people are talking about traffic lights etc. in different countries... I am probably in a minority here, but it doesn't make sense to me that in many countries, even if you have red lights, you are allowed (supposed) to drive if you are turning right (or left in Asian countries).
A red light is a red light – you're expressly forbidden to cross it. Sometimes there's an auxiliary traffic light depicting a green arrow that lights when you're allowed to go right even though you can't go forward or left (see attachment). The rule of thumb to follow in traffic: road signs override fixed traffic rules; any traffic lights override road signs; and any living traffic controller/policeman overrides traffic lights.

Jumping a red light at crossroads can cause some serious accidents. It's one thing to narrowly get through just as the red light is activating, and it's another thing to wantonly enter the crossroads while the cross traffic is in full swing.
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k4ZE106: That's also common in most of Europe. Works as a heads up to shift into first gear. Manual transmissions and all that.
Yeah, that. Also works in reverse, when there's an intermediate yellow light when going from green to red. Then it's a sign that you should brake. Technically I think you aren't allowed to jump the yellow light, but this isn't enforced, only red light is. Also, some wide, straight roads designed for fast traffic will have the green light blink for a second or two before going to yellow and red; gives you time to judge whether to slam the brakes or the gas pedal, depending on the current speed of your vehicle and distance to the crossroads.
Post edited December 28, 2015 by Charon121
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General discussionworst national traits of your country(233 posts)(233 posts)
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