ntt@dciem.UUCP (ntt) (08/10/83)
[A blinking green light in Massachusetts...] signified a light whose only
purpose was as a pedestrian crossing light.
Well, in Ontario it means that you may proceed AND you have the right of
way no matter whether you are turning or not; in other words, all other
incoming traffic has a red. (Widely used instead of a left-green-arrow when
the main traffic flow is one way.) Imagine how Ontario drivers feel when
visiting one of the few other jurisdictions that use blinking greens...
(There are blinking greens in British Columbia as well-- I think THEY are
different again, something to do with traffic-actuated signals-- any
B.C. natives out there?)
Mark Brader, NTT Systems Inc., Torontoprgclb@ihuxm.UUCP (08/10/83)
I've visited Boston only two or three times in my life, so don't consider me an expert. But the last time I was there, a student friend told me that blinking green signified that traffic on the cross street had a blinking red light (the typical indication for stop first, then proceed if-and-when clear). In most places, a blinking yellow is used for this purpose. Actually, the blinking green concept could be very useful, especially on side streets with traffic-actuated signal controls. Take our entrance to Bell Labs in Naperville, for example. During non-rush hours, there are few cars entering and leaving, and only moderate traffic on the main roads. Yet when leaving the premises, we have to wait at least 30 seconds for the traffic-actuated lights to turn green. If we had flashing red during non-rush hours, we could turn immediately if there wasn't any traffic, yet have the option of getting a green thirty seconds later if traffic happened to be heavy. Traffic on the main street would see a blinking green most of the time, but it would trip to a solid yellow and red if the signals were activated. By existing traffic standards, the only signal that drivers on the main street could get in this case is blinking yellow. Sure, the blinking yellow could turn solid yellow, but only the most alert drivers would notice the change. You'd have a lot of whammies when the light turned red. A change from blinking green to solid yellow would be far more obvious! Carl Blesch Bell Labs - Naperville, Ill. IH 2A-159, (312) 979-3360 ihuxm!prgclb
laura@utcsstat.UUCP (08/13/83)
In Toronto, blinking red lights in conection with a stop sign mean that there has been a fatality at that interesection caused when someone went through the stop sign. I took a driving course where we were told that a blinking yellow traffic light meant - slow down, proceed with caution, but you dont have to stop and a flasshing red light meant, stop, go when it is safe, and remember that the guy in the other street has a flashing red light as well. Of course, the YAHOO who taught this course said that jamming your breaks, locking them, was the best way to deal with skids on ice (WRONG WRONG WRONG) so this information cannot be said to come from a totally reliable source. Flashing green means that you can go, and that all the traffic in the other directions is seeing a red light. Left-hand turners are the primary beneficiaries. Laura Creighton utcsstat!laura
brunton@hplabs.UUCP (08/15/83)
I spoke with a friend who hails from the Boston area this weekend.
We got talking about the technique of driving their. One of his
comments was well worth repeating... "When ever you encounter a red
light, it means that four more cars can go through the intersection."
He said this with a scary sense of conviction.
My only visit to Boston was in a cab (never to be done again). I was on
my way back to the airport when he told me that a truck had broken an
axle in the tunnel (the name of which I don't remember) which headed that
way. He said, "Don't worry, I'll get you there on time!"
I've never been back since.
Scott Brunton
P.S. If I was able to get tickets to see the Bruins play, I might
consider returning.