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Old 01-06-2010, 02:34 PM   #39 (permalink)
Christ
Moderate your Moderation.
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Clev View Post
That's enough for a brand new unloaded F150 to stop from 55 using maximum braking, under ideal test track conditions, with an expert driver at the wheel and no reaction time required.

The law also defines the minimum yellow times for lights based on speed limits, among other factors. However, it can be overrode by greedy jurisdictions who are tired of driving last year's model of Interceptor.

The fact is that there's a red light camera at a 50 mph intersection on my commute with a yellow time of only 3 seconds. I have to downshift and slow down below the speed limit ahead of the light so I can make that brake or floor-it decision twice a day. If cars have to slow while approaching every green light to avoid getting caught out, then the yellow light is too damn short.
For some reason, I imagine you're the only driver that does this. If that's true, your statement is self-defeating, because it relies on other drivers having to do the same thing as you're doing, which they most likely do not.

The fact is, that there is no decision to brake or floor it. Read the law. If a cop notices you attempting to beat a yellow light, you can be stopped and ticketed in many states. They don't want you to go through the yellow light.. there's a difficult concept, I see.

Yellow does not mean "make a choice" or "keep going - it's not red yet" it means "yield and prepare to stop".

I've got a variety of light timing on the many routes that I travel to get to different places... guess what's one ticket I've never had? Running a light. Why? I stop at yellow lights. If I can't stop at it, I keep going through it, and it's only because I was within 100 feet of the light when it turned yellow anyway.

Maybe I posted incorrectly... I should have posted the 30-0 time for the heaviest vehicle I could find under the worst possible non-inclement conditions... maybe that would get you to realize that 3 seconds is actually quite a long distance.

Oh - remember - those red light cameras aren't active until the other light turns green, at least as far as I know. That means you have the 3 second yellow light and another second or two of cross over time before the other side of the intersection turns, so you won't get a ticket.
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Last edited by Christ; 01-06-2010 at 02:40 PM..
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