Traffic light loops

[Totibbs]

On vaccation in the UK I noticed that the traffic-light loop goes, just as in Germany (and maybe Austria?), from Red to Red+Yellow to Green. Back to Yellow, to Red.

In Holland and Belgium (and maybe France, Spain, Italy) it goes from Red, to Yellow to Green. Back to Yellow, to Red.

How is this in your country?

What are (probably) the pro's and con's about each loop? (any traffic specialist in here?)

Is it an idea to make one loop the standard for whole Europe? Which one?

//edit: LOL ofcourse in Holland (and maybe France, Spain, Italy), it goes from Red > Green > Yellow > Red. Not red > yellow > green. Sorry, my bad just ignore the "to yellow" in red > yellow > green.

 

[Silurian]

Going Red+Amber (Yellow) then Green allows you to know that Green will be next.
If you have only seen an Amber you do not know if Red or Green will be next so some people may not stop.
To counter this you could have a longer intergreen time but then you get less traffic through the junction.

 

[Synobun]

I was unaware there was a different loop for it. Green for go, yellow for slow, red for stop. Some loops in the city flash red when they are going to go back to green, or have a green arrow to a direction to indicate that certain lanes can go but others can't.

Seems pretty straight forward.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Here it is red -> green -> yellow -> red

There is no warning that a red light is about to turn green, except for seeing that card from other directions are stopping. A red light in one direction will not turn green until 2 seconds after the light in the other direction has turned red.

 

[Leonel]

I would imagine that yellow between where it goes from red to green would let drivers know they're about to get their turn. In the states (at least around the Pacific Northwest) it's Red -> Green -> Yellow -> Red.

 

[Zelig]

Green for go, yellow for slow, red for stop.

Yellow is also stop.

From my official licensing handbook:

A green signal light means that, when it is safe, you may go unless otherwise directed by a traffic sign or a peace officer. You must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk, including persons in wheelchairs. You must also yield to other vehicles in the intersection or those approaching so closely as to be an immediate hazard. For vehicles turning left at a green signal light, you must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles and any pedestrians that may be in your path.

A yellow or amber signal light means that you must stop before entering the intersection, if you can stop safely.

A red signal light means that all traffic facing this signal must stop at the place marked or at the nearest side of the crosswalk.

 

[Synobun]

Yellow is also stop.

From my official licensing handbook:

A green signal light means that, when it is safe, you may go unless otherwise directed by a traffic sign or a peace officer. You must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk, including persons in wheelchairs. You must also yield to other vehicles in the intersection or those approaching so closely as to be an immediate hazard. For vehicles turning left at a green signal light, you must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles and any pedestrians that may be in your path.

A yellow or amber signal light means that you must stop before entering the intersection, if you can stop safely.

A red signal light means that all traffic facing this signal must stop at the place marked or at the nearest side of the crosswalk.

Odd, since no one stops at yellow here

 

[Defiant47]

Yellow means accelerate.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Yellow does not mean slow or stop, it means caution. When you see a yellow light you must quickly decide whether you can make it into the intersection before it changes to red. If you cannot, then you must stop. If you can, then you ought to speed up.

Those who are already in the intersection when the light turns red should not stop, but clear out of the way as quickly as possible.Those wishing to turn left typically drive halfway into the intersection before the light turns red to wait until it is safe to turn. This means that legal left turns frequently take place during that 2 second window when there are red lights in all directions.


Edit: Actually, I believe that flashing yellow lights do mean that cars must stop before entering the intersection. I think flashing lights typically indicate a malfunction in the system that controls traffic timing.

 

[Dachs]

Edit: Actually, I believe that flashing yellow lights do mean that cars must stop before entering the intersection. I think flashing lights typically indicate a malfunction in the system that controls traffic timing.

No, they're to draw attention to something. In some cases, flashing yellow lights indicate that there is a stop ahead (whether a light or a sign) but it is not visible quickly enough for a driver to be reasonably expected to slow down sufficiently by the time she reaches it. In other cases, flashing yellow lights are used at an all-way stop that is particularly well-used or congested without actually placing a full traffic light system up. And so on, and so forth.

 

[GinandTonic]

Im in the UK and yellow comes up before red. IIRC it technically means "stop if safe to do so". Red + yellow as a "gentlemen, find your biting points" rings a vague bell but I've never really noticed it. Could make sense at congested intersections where everyone will be delayed by the one guy who's put his car into neutral and put the hand brake on. Not widespread.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Red-green-yellow, as it should be

 

[Joecoolyo]

Yellow means accelerate.

I do this too much

 

[Formaldehyde]

Yellow means accelerate.

Exactly.

http://movieclips.com/McGaF-starman-movie-yellow-light-go-very-fast/

The reason that stop lights in the US don't go red->yellow->green is to cut down on the number of accidents.

 

[Zelig]

The reason that stop lights in the US don't go red->yellow->green is to cut down on the number of accidents.

I thought it was because red->yellow->green doesn't make any sense and doesn't happen anywhere.

 

[Dachs]

I thought it was because red->yellow->green doesn't make any sense and doesn't happen anywhere.

Except in, apparently, the Netherlands and Belgium?

 

[Synobun]

Except in, apparently, the Netherlands and Belgium?

Implying Belgium and Holland make any sense (especially Belgium).

 

[Tahuti]

Except in, apparently, the Netherlands and Belgium?

Actually, (in the Netherlands at least) traffic lights only turn yellow after green. If I'm not mistaken, lights do go red -> yellow -> green and back again in Germany.

 

[madviking]

I've driven around nova so much that I know when the traffic lights switch from red to green. They also go in the same order.

 

[Zelig]

Yellow means accelerate.

It's not worth the hassle to pay attention to red light cameras for me to do this.