Driving Question - Should I Stop?

[Gareth& Hayley]

Should I stop at this sign? - I love google street view!



also -

What does a flashing Red traffic light mean?
What does a flashing Yellow traffic light mean?
What does a flashing Green traffic light mean? - not sure if this actually happens?

 

[Lizzybear]

Only if there are people crossing or about to, just like zebra crossings in the UK
I would recommend having a read of this site if you haven't already, I found it invaluable the first time I drove in the US:
http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/driving.htm

I cut and pasted about lights from the Florida driver's handbook (http://www.lowestpricetrafficschool.com/handbooks/driver/en)
A flashing red light means the same thing as a stop sign. It is used at dangerous intersections.
A flashing yellow light means you may move forward with caution. It is used at, or just before, dangerous intersections, or to alert you to a warning sign such as a school crossing or sharp curve.

I know it all looks scary to read about but when you're actually on the road it's fine, I bet you'll enjoy it more than driving in the UK like many of us on here

 

[HeresYourEars]

Flashing red: Come to a complete stop, then proceed with caution.

Flashing yellow: Yield to oncoming traffic, then proceed with caution.

Flashing green: There is no such signal. Unless the light is malfunctioning.

 

[arielrocks]

Flashing green: There is no such signal. Unless the light is malfunctioning.

hehehehehe

 

[Kath2003]

Only if there are people crossing or about to

Or conversely you could do what everyone else does and totally ignore pedestrians trying to cross

Being a pedestrian in Orlando is a skill all of its own.

 

[islandmum]

Flashing green: There is no such signal. Unless the light is malfunctioning.

this was the mistake we made ...... in some areas there IS a flashing green light signal, it means go WITH CAUTION as other traffic is not stopped.

we turned left at a junction in Miami in 2007 with a flashing green turn left arrow - and were t-boned by an SUV and had a major crash. Sustained green we learned meant that the oncoming traffic was stationary and we could go unobstructed, flashing green meant oncoming traffic had right of way but we could go if there was a gap. Dont know which cities/states this is applicable to but we definately wont be making the same mistake again in Miami!

BTW to all - you can turn RIGHT even at a red light at a junction.

 

[Gareth& Hayley]

Thank you all! I have the sat nav loaded up with all the major POIs and ready to go! I'm looking on google maps to become used to the area.

Is it true you can ask for a roll of quarters at the toll booths -I am assuming it is far quicker to use the coin bins?

 

[wickesy]

Flashing red: Come to a complete stop, then proceed with caution.

Oops, I'm pretty sure I broke that rule at some point during our trip a few weeks ago.

I am assuming it is far quicker to use the coin bins?

Not always, generally there's only been a car or two in front of us when we've got to the tolls.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

BTW to all - you can turn RIGHT even at a red light at a junction.

UNLESS it specifically forbids you to do so, such as the sign that was outside WDW/Crossroads traffic junction

 

[islandmum]

UNLESS it specifically forbids you to do so, such as the sign that was outside WDW/Crossroads traffic junction

yeh - obviously if theres a specific no right turn sign then that becomes obscelete. We spent our first day on the first trip driving in the US years ago wondering why we had stopped on a red light and traffic behind us was honking and yelling for us to go .... we soon learned

 

[Lizzybear]

Or conversely you could do what everyone else does and totally ignore pedestrians trying to cross

Being a pedestrian in Orlando is a skill all of its own.

I did 2 trips without a car when I went with family and I remember the numerous races against those countdowns to get across the road all too well, I always wondered how anyone with mobility problems or something would cope

 

[jen_uk]

Thank you all! I have the sat nav loaded up with all the major POIs and ready to go! I'm looking on google maps to become used to the area.

I've just got back from my first trip driving and one thing I learnt is that the satnav isn't always right! For example the satnav will take you to the nearest entrance when going to a theme park etc but this entrance might be a cast member entrance, use the sat nav to get you near to where you are going and then just follow the signs. Also, out satnav for some reason thought DTD was somewhere totally different, it took us to AK and we then just used the signs to get there. Overall, it was very good tho, driving is very easy there and nothing to worry about