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Thymeclock · 05-09-2012, 07:27 PM

Just to illustrate how many traffic lights and stop signs are in my vicinity, here are some examples. To go from my home to my workshop is one mile. The most advantageous route (with the least possible number of traffic control devices) comprises 8 stop signs and 2 traffic lights. The alternative, which is about one and a half miles has 10 traffic lights and 2 stop signs. The speed limit is 30 MPH for any possible route. That is just the short but essential trip that I must drive once or more, daily. If I need to drive to service a customer, the number of lights and signs encountered increases enormously.

Out of curiosity I made a tabulation of all the lights & stop signs I encountered today in a typical 12 mile round trip in my local area. The total was 62 traffic lights and 10 stop signs. Typically a good portion of the lights (often a majority) are not well timed and will require stopping. The big problem is that it is often impossible to predict how long you will be waiting at a red light. At the few lights that are predictable (and known to be long) I do shut the engine off. But there is no way I'm going to do that for every red light I come to. It would be inconsiderate to keep cars behind me waiting while I'm restarting my engine. I don't like comatose drivers who hold up traffic by not moving after the light turns green, so I don't do it to others.

We now have photo enforced red light cameras here and I found that the best way of avoiding a ticket is to speed up as needed to be sure to get through that intersection while the light is still green. The length of the yellow light is not absolute; it can vary and the enforcement powers are enjoying the uncertainty it generates and the cash cow revenue it brings the county.

I do engine-on coasting (in drive) always, and neutral coasting whenever possible, meaning approaching stop signs, as it's an automatic. But the opportunities are relatively few. I refuse to do engine-off coasting as there is so much traffic here that to do it would be an increased risk at the least, or even a safety hazard.

05-09-2012, 07:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
Thymeclock Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Posts: 865 Thanks: 29 Thanked 111 Times in 83 Posts	Just to illustrate how many traffic lights and stop signs are in my vicinity, here are some examples. To go from my home to my workshop is one mile. The most advantageous route (with the least possible number of traffic control devices) comprises 8 stop signs and 2 traffic lights. The alternative, which is about one and a half miles has 10 traffic lights and 2 stop signs. The speed limit is 30 MPH for any possible route. That is just the short but essential trip that I must drive once or more, daily. If I need to drive to service a customer, the number of lights and signs encountered increases enormously. Out of curiosity I made a tabulation of all the lights & stop signs I encountered today in a typical 12 mile round trip in my local area. The total was 62 traffic lights and 10 stop signs. Typically a good portion of the lights (often a majority) are not well timed and will require stopping. The big problem is that it is often impossible to predict how long you will be waiting at a red light. At the few lights that are predictable (and known to be long) I do shut the engine off. But there is no way I'm going to do that for every red light I come to. It would be inconsiderate to keep cars behind me waiting while I'm restarting my engine. I don't like comatose drivers who hold up traffic by not moving after the light turns green, so I don't do it to others. We now have photo enforced red light cameras here and I found that the best way of avoiding a ticket is to speed up as needed to be sure to get through that intersection while the light is still green. The length of the yellow light is not absolute; it can vary and the enforcement powers are enjoying the uncertainty it generates and the cash cow revenue it brings the county. I do engine-on coasting (in drive) always, and neutral coasting whenever possible, meaning approaching stop signs, as it's an automatic. But the opportunities are relatively few. I refuse to do engine-off coasting as there is so much traffic here that to do it would be an increased risk at the least, or even a safety hazard.