When did traffic laws become traffic "suggestions"?

[kaytieeldr]

A response in another thread reminded me of something that's been bothering me lately.

When did "No Turn on Red", red lights, and stop signs - become mere suggestions to drivers rather than requirements? I take the same route to work every day and invariably I see drivers ignore "no turn on red" signs (except the one within view of the police station ), roll through stop signs or think the sign means 'as long as one car stops the next eighteen of us can just follow as if we're all linked by a chain', even, recently, one silly person make a LEFT turn through a red light onto a two-way traffic road.

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

 

[ckay87]

A response in another thread reminded me of something that's been bothering me lately.

When did "No Turn on Red", red lights, and stop signs - become mere suggestions to drivers rather than requirements? I take the same route to work every day and invariably I see drivers ignore "no turn on red" signs (except the one within view of the police station ), roll through stop signs or think the sign means 'as long as one car stops the next eighteen of us can just follow as if we're all linked by a chain', even, recently, one silly person make a LEFT turn through a red light onto a two-way traffic road.

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

I attribute a lot of that to people simply not paying attention - either texting, phoning, eating, or (in my case) just zoning out. I sat at a green light once the entire time it was green. Oh yea, I made lots of friends on the road that day . Was probably doing a mental store list or something. Sorry everyone

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I work for a French company and someone told me once that the rules and regulations are only "suggestions" to them and I need to find ways to work around them. Maybe all your drivers are French.

Oh yeah, and my favorite "Right on Red" is when people cut me off. I actually got into a screaming match one time because the guy kept trying to go right on red. I rolled down my window and screamed "It's only right on red when there isn't any oncoming traffic." He flipped me off. Go figure! MORON!!

 

[dawson5]

Oh yeah, and my favorite "Right on Red" is when people cut me off. I actually got into a screaming match one time because the guy kept trying to go right on red. I rolled down my window and screamed "It's only right on red when there isn't any oncoming traffic." He flipped me off. Go figure! MORON!!

I was on the road with my kids in the car, kid was in a convertible corvette I think. He was driving erractically and cut me off, along with a few others, weaving in and out of traffic. He had a dealers plate on the car. We get to a stop light, I told him "nice dealer plate." He flipped me off... kid's in the car witnessing the whole thing. I wrote down the plate number, make & model and the dealership it came from. It ended up that daddy owned the car business (used cars) and sonny-boy had just graduated high school and daddy thought it would be a nice reward to let him take his g/f out. I told him what was going on and that I didn't appreciate it, especially with my kids in the car. His daddy was ticked. That's like having a sign on the car saying "don't buy from me."

What really gets me is the UPS driver speeding down my road and not fully stopping at stop signs.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

A response in another thread reminded me of something that's been bothering me lately.

When did "No Turn on Red", red lights, and stop signs - become mere suggestions to drivers rather than requirements? I take the same route to work every day and invariably I see drivers ignore "no turn on red" signs (except the one within view of the police station ), roll through stop signs or think the sign means 'as long as one car stops the next eighteen of us can just follow as if we're all linked by a chain', even, recently, one silly person make a LEFT turn through a red light onto a two-way traffic road.

When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?

Yes...I absolutely love it when I pull up to a "No Turn on Red" intersection and some moron behind me starts laying on the horn and gesturing for me to get going. Learn to read and follow rules, or get off the road! It also bugs me when there's a big sign that says "DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION" and people do it anyway.

 

[sbell111]

I'll admit that I have, on occasion, turned right on red at a 'no turn on red' intersection. Frankly, I think that the 'no turn on red' rule is stupid. At any red light, people should be able to turn right if they can verify that it is safe to do so.

 

[ford family]

I'll admit that I have, on occasion, turned right on red at a 'no turn on red' intersection. Frankly, I think that the 'no turn on red' rule is stupid. At any red light, people should be able to turn right if they can verify that it is safe to do so.

It depends on how complicated the junction is. Some intersections have traffic turning from several directions simultaneously and it is not always possible to make a valid judgement as to how safe it is turning right on red at that particular spot.
I don't think they suspend the rule just on a whim.

ford family

 

[PrincessV]

~ sigh ~

Welcome to my world. We're in full-throttle tourist season down here in FL, which means every other visiting car has forgotten the basic and universal rules of the road. Driving my DS home from school yesterday, an elderly gentleman (and I use that term loosely) from MN wasn't happy about my stopping. At a red light. Behind about 20 other cars... all stopped for the red light. So he began honking. The idiot honked until the light turned green and we started moving.

 

[Feralpeg]

I'll admit that I have, on occasion, turned right on red at a 'no turn on red' intersection. Frankly, I think that the 'no turn on red' rule is stupid. At any red light, people should be able to turn right if they can verify that it is safe to do so.

I think that's the OP's point. Whether you think the law is stupid or not really doesn't matter. It is a law. If you don't like the law, work to get it changed. A lot of people only obey the laws they like. So, where does it stop? If I don't like the idea of stop signs, should I just blow through them?

It's like people and speed limits. The speed designations are not a suggestion, yet people think it is okay to drive at the speed they want.

If it is a law, obey it or don't drive. This isn't directed at you sbell111, you just happened to hit a sore spot.

 

[sbell111]

I think that's the OP's point. Whether you think the law is stupid or not really doesn't matter. It is a law. If you don't like the law, work to get it changed. A lot of people only obey the laws they like. So, where does it stop? If I don't like the idea of stop signs, should I just blow through them?

It's like people and speed limits. The speed designations are not a suggestion, yet people think it is okay to drive at the speed they want.

If it is a law, obey it or don't drive. This isn't directed at you sbell111, you just happened to hit a sore spot.

Have you ever exceeded the speed limit? Have you ever changed a lane without signalling first? Do you signal prior to turning into your own driveway? Do you always signal when you are leaving a streetside parking space? Have you ever cut someone off, even accidently? Have you ever walked across the street in the middle of a block?

How about the OP or the other posters to this thread?

It is true that I have, on occasion, willfully or accidently violated a traffic regulation. When I have done so, I did so knowing that I was still driving safely. If I was issued a ticket for these actions, I would quietly accept it. I am responsible for my actions regardless of whether I choose to obey a law or not.

Here's the takeaway: 1) People who are shocked when others choose whether to obey a specific law but do the very same thing would be called hypocrits by some and 2) People who choose not to obey a traffic regulation and end up getting a ticket should simply accept the ticket and move on with life.

 

[Squirlz]

I'll admit that I have, on occasion, turned right on red at a 'no turn on red' intersection. Frankly, I think that the 'no turn on red' rule is stupid. At any red light, people should be able to turn right if they can verify that it is safe to do so.

It's typically posted at intersections where you CAN'T verify that it's safe, even if you think you can.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

I think that's the OP's point. Whether you think the law is stupid or not really doesn't matter. It is a law. If you don't like the law, work to get it changed. A lot of people only obey the laws they like. So, where does it stop? If I don't like the idea of stop signs, should I just blow through them?

It's like people and speed limits. The speed designations are not a suggestion, yet people think it is okay to drive at the speed they want.

If it is a law, obey it or don't drive. This isn't directed at you sbell111, you just happened to hit a sore spot.

 

[KAMLEM]

I take the same route to work every day and invariably I see drivers ignore "no turn on red" signs roll through stop signs or think the sign means 'as long as one car stops the next eighteen of us can just follow as if we're all linked by a chain',

When I took Driver's Ed (MANY years ago) my teacher told me that it was legal to follow another car through if you're the second or third car and you had completely stopped first. I remember thinking that just didn't sound right.

 

[Feralpeg]

Have you ever exceeded the speed limit? Have you ever changed a lane without signalling first? Do you signal prior to turning into your own driveway? Do you always signal when you are leaving a streetside parking space? Have you ever cut someone off, even accidently? Have you ever walked across the street in the middle of a block?

How about the OP or the other posters to this thread?

It is true that I have, on occasion, willfully or accidentally violated a traffic regulation. When I have done so, I did so knowing that I was still driving safely. If I was issued a ticket for these actions, I would quietly accept it. I am responsible for my actions regardless of whether I choose to obey a law or not.

Here's the takeaway: 1) People who are shocked when others choose whether to obey a specific law but do the very same thing would be called hypocrits by some and 2) People who choose not to obey a traffic regulation and end up getting a ticket should simply accept the ticket and move on with life.

I never intentionally speed. Unless I don't know the speed limit or I somehow get distracted, I don't speed. I always signal when I make a turn and I do try to follow all traffic regulations. Am I perfect? No. I make mistakes, but I don't do it intentionally.

I am 57 years old and have never had a traffic ticket. I'm not bragging. It is just a fact.

 

[sbell111]

It's typically posted at intersections where you CAN'T verify that it's safe, even if you think you can.

If you can see in both directions, you can verify that it's safe.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I attribute a lot of that to people simply not paying attention - either texting, phoning, eating, or (in my case) just zoning out. I sat at a green light once the entire time it was green. Oh yea, I made lots of friends on the road that day . Was probably doing a mental store list or something. Sorry everyone

It's been a problem since long before the invention of cell phones and texting.

I recall a turn in New Orleans that I would take coming out of downtown en route to I-10. Everyone and their brother would make the turn from teh left lane b/c you would never make the turn to I-10 if you made the turn legally.

I had made that turn many times with my parents in the car. Then one day, they had a crackdown and pulled over tons of people--myself included.

We can blame whatever we want--but bottom line, some people feel entitled to make seemingly simply adjustments in the law. I can't say that I entirely felt that way--but I had been coached that way for that particular turn.

Just like people are okay with going 15 mph over the speed limit. People do it b/c they can and the risk of a ticket is okay with them.

Drives me INSANE.

 

[sbell111]

I never intentionally speed. Unless I don't know the speed limit or I somehow get distracted, I don't speed. I always signal when I make a turn and I do try to follow all traffic regulations. Am I perfect? No. I make mistakes, but I don't do it intentionally.

I am 57 years old and have never had a traffic ticket. I'm not bragging. It is just a fact.

I noticed that you glossed over some of my questions, but that's OK. Very few people ever signal before turning into their driveway. Most don't signal when leaving a streetside parking spot. People frequently jaywalk.

BTW, you should always know the speed limit, even if it's not posted. Speeding because you are not aware of the limit will not be an acceptable defense to the ticket. Also, driving distracted is, in itself, a violation of traffic regulations.

Personally, I never drive distracted. I believe that to be a MUCH larger safety issue than merely making a 'rolling stop' at a stop sign after checking the intersection or turning right on red after verifying that it is safe to do so.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you can see in both directions, you can verify that it's safe.

Sounds like you should go right ahead and follow the rules you like and disregard the ones you don't as long as YOU have verified that the rule is stupid and the action can be done "safely".

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I noticed that you glossed over some of my questions, but that's OK. Very few people ever signal before turning into their driveway. Most don't signal when leaving a streetside parking spot. People frequently jaywalk.

BTW, you should always know the speed limit, even if it's not posted. Speeding because you are not aware of the limit will not be an acceptable defense to the ticket. Also, driving distracted is, in itself, a violation of traffic regulations.

Ohhh...it's the..."but other people do it defense".


Not really a good argument so the fact that Feralpeg didn't answer your questions as you liked is moot.

Why YOU choose to disregard the law should not be influenced by what others do.

 

[sbell111]

It's been a problem since long before the invention of cell phones and texting.

I recall a turn in New Orleans that I would take coming out of downtown en route to I-10. Everyone and their brother would make the turn from teh left lane b/c you would never make the turn to I-10 if you made the turn legally.

I had made that turn many times with my parents in the car. Then one day, they had a crackdown and pulled over tons of people--myself included.

We can blame whatever we want--but bottom line, some people feel entitled to make seemingly simply adjustments in the law. I can't say that I entirely felt that way--but I had been coached that way for that particular turn.

Just like people are okay with going 15 mph over the speed limit. People do it b/c they can and the risk of a ticket is okay with them.

Drives me INSANE.

Did it drive you insane when you were the one doing it?