Traffic Lights: Are They Needed?

[akima]

Very interesting 2 part video on traffic lights:

Link to original page on YouTube.

Link to original page on YouTube.

That second video is particularly interesting.

Both of the above videos are about the UK. This is an interesting side-by-side showing of CCTV footage of a junction in Auckland, New Zealand: with and without traffic light control:

Link to original page on YouTube.

Personally, I find traffic lights on my journey to be the biggest cause of frustration and potential danger on a typical drive. I tend to choose routes which avoid traffic lights where possible. From my own experience I feel my journeys are more enjoyable, more flowing and safer when dealing with other traffic on roundabouts and even on intersections with broken traffic lights.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Traffic lights must loose-power sometimes in North America and elsewhere? How do you and your peoples deal with it?

[snot]

I think they should turn them off (4 way stop) during slow traffic. My area it would be Sunday-Thursday start at 10 pm - 630 am Monday- Friday morning.

[Motofool]

As always, very interesting subject, Akima.


It takes non-Floridian civilized drivers to achieve such harmony without regulating lights.

Down here, even 4-way stop signs are potentially lethal for motorcyclists as each converging driver wants to cross at once, regardless conditions.

[akima]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Down here, even 4-way stop signs are potentially lethal for motorcyclists as each converging driver wants to cross at once, regardless conditions.

I actually count myself relatively lucky over here. I think our roads are pretty good. Lots of roundabouts and very, very few stop signs. Unfortunately though there seems to be a growing number of traffic lights.