What's the point of Red and Green Men?

[Daim]

Originally Posted by Bill_56

Too true. Or (the Brit) would get a bit paranoid, start to feel cheated, and shoot forwards aggressively when it wasn't his turn.

Odd though that they cope so well as motorists, considering that US ctizens have a certain reputation for (dis)orderly queing in other circumstances, like waiting for a bus or taxi at the airport.

Well, and this is not fiction but fact, the American analphabet percentage is a lot higher than here in Europe. I think even Romania and Turkey have a lower percentage. So laws are easy. Confusion due to left and right mixups is also lower, as you can overtake on the left, the right or however you feel is right.

US driving is basically made up of:

- first come, first serve
- match the numbers on the speed sign to the numbers in your speedo
- oncoming traffic must pass on the side your steering wheel is on
- Red light means stop
- Yellow/amber light means get prepared for a light change
- Green light means go

Knowing those 6 rules you can drive throughout the USA with ease and that is it. Compare that to the rules you need to know here and you get the point.

The taxi/bus queue is a little different. There it is personal ego over personal ego. Kind of like traffic in Mumbay!

But if you are in say a supermarket, you don't get the British "every till has a queue". You get the "all tills share one queue". So somewhere along the lines, the Yanks inherited the British "Queue? And you don't know why? I'll be there in 10 mins!" mentality Otherwise they inherited the German way of life (Me first then you!!!)

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

I was walking to work this morning from the station which involves crossing may road with traffic lights that have the red and green men for pedestrians.

Everybody ignores them, even the 2 policemen that I walked beside for 3 sets of lights which therefore begs the question - if they are ignored by the people enforcing the law what is the point of having them?

.

It is not law for a pedestrian to stop for a red man!
But I do get your point and maybe it should be.
Bonus fact.... Most pedestrian injuries happen within 100 yards of a safe crossing point.

[cookie]

What about elderly, those that can't nip between the cars, blind (who can use the little spinning viabrator thing under the button on the crossing)

If someone gets knocked down 50 ft from a crossing then they should be charged for the cost of all medical care and as long as driver wasnt speeding etc they should be free to sue pedestrian

[GMad]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

what is the point of having them?

So that deaf people know when it is safe to cross the road

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by GMad

So that deaf people know when it is safe to cross the road

Don't deaf people just look at the road to see if it is clear, in the same way that other people do?

Are you perhaps thinking of blind people and the beeping that some 'pelican' crossings have? Note that I say some as I haven't heard any beeping from signals at road junctions

[cookie]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

Don't deaf people just look at the road to see if it is clear, in the same way that other people do?

Are you perhaps thinking of blind people and the beeping that some 'pelican' crossings have? Note that I say some as I haven't heard any beeping from signals at road junctions

many of the new crossings now have a little spinny thing under where you press the button, they can just rest their hand there, and when it viabrates, they know the green man is showing

They are called tactile indicators apparently

http://www.radixtraffic.co.uk/page8.html

[GMad]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

Don't deaf people just look at the road to see if it is clear, in the same way that other people do?

I'm sure they do, but in this world of equality small children, frail old people and indeed disabled people must all be catered for.
I wouldn't say that I take the little flashing men as gospel, because I too would look and listen, but they are in my peripheral vision on the rare occasions that I'm a pedestrian, so they are having an effect in that I'm noticing them .
As such I don't really have an issue with them and if they help just one person, then all is good and well

[arcturus]

Here in Portugal pedestrians have the right of way,full stop. They swing on to crossings without looking even if you're a meter or two from it and it's up to you to stop. No arguement. It's ALWAYS your fault, no excuse if you hit one.