On my way home after a long day at work, I pull up to a red stop light at an intersection. I intend to take a right, so I have my right blinker on. There is no one coming, and I would love to take my right turn on red, and so get home a little sooner, but there it is: a NO TURN ON RED sign. Being the law-abiding citizen that I am, I wait patiently for the signal to change.

Then, up behind me, comes an impatient and unobservant driver who must be in a bigger hurry than I. Seeing that the way is clear, he begins blasting his horn to gently remind me to take my right turn. The longer the light stays red, the more he honks, and the more frustrated both of us get. Does he think I'm asleep? Does he see the sign? Does he see it, but think that it is merely a suggestion?

I wish I could somehow emphasize that I am simply observing the No Turn On Red sign. This is why the sign should be equipped with a microphone that is tuned to the sound frequencies typically used by car horns. When it hears a beep, the letters on the sign illuminate brightly. That way, for every honk, there is a bright flash of the sign. Eventually it will draw the attention of even the densest drivers as they sit there honking and honking.
-- JephSullivan, Sep 08 2005

A good one would be, that after 5 honks from offending vehicles, the sign would radiate a bright red and blast out a almighty hair raising window shaking honk of its own in retaliation.

Just make sure migrating geese don't set this off with their honks.
-- skinflaps, Sep 08 2005


I'd be easier (and less anoying to residents) if camera's detected a slowmoving/stationary flashing-amber-light (indicator) instead. [AWOL] I'm sure we could knock som't upp quite quickly. What d'ya reckon?
-- Dub, Sep 08 2005


Better, I think, to just get rid of "right turn on red" altogether. It's not allowed in NYC, and the traffic flow here is no worse than anywhere else in the world (New Jersey, for example).
-- DrCurry, Sep 08 2005


//and the (t)raffic flow here is no worse than anywhere else in the world// Heh.

In my experience right-on-red significantly increases traffic flow. Getting rid of it because someone honked at [JS] seems like a bit of overkill.
-- Worldgineer, Sep 08 2005


[We have a *lot* of raffic here in NYC...typo fixed!]
-- DrCurry, Sep 08 2005


Of course, hopefully a day will come when traffic lights are smart enough to eliminate the need for right-on-red altogether. There are a few intersections in downtown Boston where I work that are controlled by actual human police officers during busy times of day. They can streamline the traffic flow by making intelligent decisions about who goes first. Hopefully there are plenty of ideas in the oven right now for how to put this type of initelligence into automated traffic lights.
-- JephSullivan, Sep 08 2005


I've always wondered, do you have left-turn-on-red in England?
-- JephSullivan, Sep 09 2005


No, we don't. Red = stop; if you are allowed to turn left then a green left arrow lights up to tell you so.
-- david_scothern, Sep 09 2005


If you think our country doesn't have traffic flow problems, I invite you to visit San Diego or Los Angeles, where the right-turn-on-red is allowed and traffic is still heinous.

And if you go to LA, be sure to bring your 9. They find bullets more effective than carhorns up there.

In San Diego, you'll find traffic especially fun near the beaches at La Jolla and Pacific Beach and the malls in Mission Valley. When I interned in La Jolla, it took me at least an hour to get home every day, whether I took surface streets or one of two freeways. I lived two miles away.
-- disbomber, Sep 09 2005


In addition [skinflaps], a sign would pop up from above the light, reading:

I am not deaf but
ARE YOU BLIND???!!

Those irretable buggers always get on my nerves. I've been thinking about installing a LED screen on the back window of my car and a console on my dashboard.
button nr.1: They are grey (in case you were wondering).
button nr.2: One elephant. BOEM!!
button nr.3: On my mark...
button nr.4: Hellfires armed....

Additionally some extra smoke pod could be fitted for the extra special effect, in case someone still did not get it.
-- Susan, Sep 09 2005


(+) I like this. It's more civilized than my idea of just shooting the ignorant honking pricks.
-- crater, Sep 09 2005


[JephSullivan] - we have "left turn on red" in some states of Australia.
-- Detly, Sep 10 2005


We almost always turn on red here in Michigan. Even if there's a sign... Not enough traffic to fuss with.
-- RayfordSteele, Sep 10 2005


What I found is that most red left turn signals are entirely point less. Where as most red right hand turn signals are there for a very clear purpose.
-- Antegrity, Sep 10 2005


Middle finger is appropriate here. It can also net you some insurance money.
-- Laimak, Sep 10 2005


Talk about an edge-case.
-- bristolz, Sep 10 2005


[JephSullivan] next time you are stuck at a red light with no cross traffic, try rapidly flashing your high beams. If it doesn't cause the signal to change at least it will feel like you are doing something about it.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 10 2005


[Pa`ve] - a more concise way to achieve the same effect is to have a biohazard or radiological hazard sign on the rear and sides of your vehicle. No one will mess with you.
-- Detly, Sep 11 2005


The beauty of it is that they're not hard to find or order...
-- Detly, Sep 11 2005


No fucking reason for that fucking sign in the first place. DAMN they annoy me. Typically I turn anyway; I mean, it must have been installed by mistake, right? Especially on Hanes Mall Blvd. Fucking pointless right there.
-- Eugene, Sep 11 2005


There's an email address here that I love. "Left on red at any corner." Should reduce the auto population significantly.
-- Garboon, Sep 11 2005


[2 Fries] I think I've heard of that trick. Isn't that how ambulances and police cars get the light to change? I'll have to try it.
-- JephSullivan, Sep 13 2005


In Lebanon they only drive on red and stop for green. Even the police honk their horns when traffic waits at red....its just frowned upon over there....hillarious.
-- shinobi, Sep 13 2005


// And if you go to LA, be sure to bring your 9. They find bullets more effective than carhorns up there.

In San Diego, you'll find traffic especially fun near the beaches at La Jolla and Pacific Beach and the malls in Mission Valley. When I interned in La Jolla, it took me at least an hour to get home every day, whether I took surface streets or one of two freeways. I lived two miles away. //

I disagree with your claims regarding LA. The Army, Navy, and Marine core have all determined that Car horns are in fact more effective than .9mm bullets, and have repeatedly requested that they be re-issued .45 cal pistols. NATO forces are laboring under faulty preconceptions caused by poorly designed French car horns. Be advised to arm your elf accordingly.

Your information concerning San Diego, however, is right on the money. It's safer, and FAR faster to get out and walk, A La "Falling Down," in that city.
-- ye_river_xiv, Jun 08 2008



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