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One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 2017 10:18 am
by Fozzer
..is the plethora of; "Stop Signs" adorning North America Road Junctions.... :) ....

The object of which is to bring the driver of a vehicle to a complete standstill, observe traffic from all directions, and proceed when the road ahead is clear of traffic and pedestrians.

All this makes sense to me.... :clap: ...

....apart from some other folks!... :twisted: ....>>>

http://kron4.com/2017/05/31/people-beha ... top-signs/

Failing to stop at a Stop Sign is a punishable offence in the USA!

Over here, in the land of the Brits, it is a free-for-all when it comes to crossroads and junctions, and if one dares to slow to a standstill to observe traffic, one is immediately honked at/shouted at by a following impatient motorist!.... :oops: ....!

In the "Olden Days" we had signs such as; "Slow", "Stop", and; "HALT at major road ahead", at road junctions, to ensure safety for all.....

...alas, long gone now!

Now, it becomes a personal embarrassment when one (me!) dares to stop at a road junction, to make sure the road in all directions is safe to proceed!... :( ....!

What is it like in your part of the World when it comes to safety at Road Junctions?

Paul...Pausing to contemplate the way ahead... :D ...!

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Thu Jun 01, 2017 11:00 am
by Sinkrate
It’s a question of visibility. If you can see the other road in both directions before getting to the stop line then there is no need to come to a complete standstill before joining it. I’ve noticed that some motorway roundabouts now have barriers fitted to reduce visibility! :o Can’t get my head around that! :doh:

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 7:03 am
by zswobbie1
Here, In Cape Town, South Africa, laws are laws, & we, apart from our minibus taxi's obey them.
Stop means stop.

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Fri Jun 02, 2017 8:00 am
by Hawkeye07
zswobbie1 wrote:Here, In Cape Town, South Africa, laws are laws, & we, apart from our minibus taxi's obey them.
Stop means stop.


I wish it was the same here in small town Minnesota. The last several years it seems to be getting worse. People are blowing through stop signs like it's a hobby.
Stop lights are almost the same. Green means go, yellow means go faster and red means "I can make it before the cross street traffic starts moving." :evil:
It's what we call the "Farmer Mentality". Out on the dirt roads in the farming areas it's no big deal but here in the city it's different story unfortunately the farmers and their offspring don't seem get it.

On the lighter side...A long time ago a shipmate of mine in the Navy asked me if I knew what the S T O P sign really meant. He said in his home town there was a certain girl who liked to "party". Everyone said the S T O P sign meant "Skip Town Opal's Pregnant" It was rather humorous until twenty years later I became the step-father of a daughter named Opal. Now not so funny. :lol: :lol:

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 3:38 am
by expat
Fozzer wrote:..is the plethora of; "Stop Signs" adorning North America Road Junctions.... :) ....

The object of which is to bring the driver of a vehicle to a complete standstill, observe traffic from all directions, and proceed when the road ahead is clear of traffic and pedestrians.

All this makes sense to me.... :clap: ...

....apart from some other folks!... :twisted: ....>>>

http://kron4.com/2017/05/31/people-beha ... top-signs/

Failing to stop at a Stop Sign is a punishable offence in the USA!



It is also a punishable offence in Europe too. If a policeman observes you, you will be stopped and he will invite you to make a cash contribution to the states coffers.......and in Germany you will be invited to insert your PIN card into the reader that every police car has....

Matt

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 12:46 pm
by Hawkeye07
expat wrote:
Fozzer wrote:..is the plethora of; "Stop Signs" adorning North America Road Junctions.... :) ....

It is also a punishable offence in Europe too. If a policeman observes you, you will be stopped and he will invite you to make a cash contribution to the states coffers.......and in Germany you will be invited to insert your PIN card into the reader that every police car has....

Matt


It's a punishable offense here too but there is rarely a cop around when you wish there would be. One of our worst intersections is only about 500 meters from the "Cop Shop".

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 4:15 pm
by napamule
That intersection (in California, anyway) might as well be a 4 way stop intersection. You stop to let the other guy who is waiting at his stop to go thru. If no one is 'waiting' to cross (including pedestrians) then it's 'OK' to do the 'rolling stop'. What's the big deal? It says STOP not STOP AND LINGER! :roll:
Chuck B
Napamule

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sat Jun 03, 2017 5:20 pm
by H
Once upon a time, NH motorists not only had to stop when faced by a red light but had to remain stopped until the green light appeared (until the latter part of the previous century, one could not make a right-hand turn in NH until the green light). At a four-way stop sign intersection, all are supposed to make a complete stop and allow any already stopped to cross first; if arriving at the same time, the vehicle to the right has precedence. Unfortunately, these rules aren't always followed.
Last month, I waited for my green light and slowly began my turn while the opposing inner lane waited (there was no one waiting in the opposing outer lane). I hadn't even completed the arc of my turn when a blur appeared in the opposing outer lane. I hit my brake but he ripped the front of my car off. Yes, it's fortunate that there were no major injuries -- but I purchased my car in December with my landlady foregoing full rent for nearly five months; I'd just caught up the rent, one week late, not two hours before the accident. I paid well under book value for it and it passed inspection without needing any major repairs. Since NH doesn't have no-fault, and his insurance company, nor I (particularly for what I'd paid), could find an equivalent, I've wound up with a few-years-newer vehicle which passed inspection requirements but still needs some not-so-necessary repair (fixed the transaxle leak but the cruise control powers but doesn't engage).
As to the scenario, I don't care who or what has upset you -- you are sharing the roadway -- pay attention to what you're doing! If I'd been moving less cautiously, as most would have, someone might not be in such good condition now.

:roll:


8-)

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 3:23 am
by Fozzer
The "4-way intersection" with Stop Signs in the USA, which always confuses me when it comes to who has the right-of-way to proceed!

This explains it somewhat...>>>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOQ9FVYf2-8

Over here in England, where there are no actual "Stop Signs" at the junction, the problem is resolved with much helpful pointing and waving of hands at similarly confused motorists!
It always gets resolved by all those involved blowing kisses to each other in the way of thanks!

Its called; "Courtesy on the road".

I love it!

Paul.... :D ...!

P.S. On the British "Roundabout" system, the rule is to give way to any traffic on your right which is already already on the Roundabout!
On foreign Roundabouts where traffic drives on the Right-hand side of the road, the procedure will be to give way to traffic on your left.
It works.

P.P.S. ...and even more confusion!...(with music)...>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiWFe0YKTzk

Re: One thing that has always attracted my attention...

PostPosted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 5:05 pm
by H
Fozzer wrote:Over here in England, where there are no actual "Stop Signs" at the junction, the problem is resolved with much helpful pointing and waving of hands at similarly confused motorists!
It always gets resolved by all those involved blowing kisses to each other in the way of thanks!
...and all this at 35mph (+/-15mph)? Then there's no guarantee over here that someone won't ignore the reduce speed or stop ahead warning and try zipping through at 60mph, blowing more than a kiss.
Of course, the young fellow whose car smacked mine did eventually stop -- on his far side of the intersection with the aid of my car. The local police chief drove me home and asked if I'd been wearing my seatbelt. I told him I had but it sure did nothing to stop the accident; actually, with my movement being sideways, it contributed nothing.



8-)