The 10,000 Post Thread v2

[Larks2242 251]

6206

LEDs are also has disadvantages because of its lower heat, especially in winter

It wouldn't really work out as an outdoor light when there's snow

WOAH, i never knew saw that it covers the lights, how do you drive if you can see the red light, treat it as a 4 way stop?

[astronelson 339]

6212.

I would guess so, although I wouldn't recommend driving in conditions where that can happen.

[Duke87 1,070]

(6213)

A snow-covered light should, as a dark light, be treated as a stop sign.

Problem is, it's a different animal from the power being out. When the light is dark, it's dark in all directions. When it's snow covered, cross traffic and oncoming traffic likely does not have their lights covered (depends on wind direction) and will obey the signal normally. So it's tougher to manage.

Still, snow-covered lights are not a phenomenon that everywhere that gets snow is particularly vulnerable to. It takes both high volume and the right wind... it's most common around the great lakes. I've never seen it happen in Connecticut, New Jersey, or downstate New York... plenty of snow, but the storms are different in nature. It's nor'easters, not lake effect snow.

The picture shown above I believe is from Ohio (I remember the article it came from) - in this particular incident, one woman had a green left turn arrow perfectly visible and went to make a left turn, but the signal for oncoming traffic was blocked, and so someone coming that way didn't see it was red and kept driving, crashing into the left turning woman. You would think they'd know to stop but not everyone has these smarts. And if the whole signal, mast arm and all is covered in snow, I suppose it's possible to not even notice there's a traffic light there.

Although come to think of it... you hear about accidents caused by this only in the great lakes region, but perhaps that's more a result of differing attitudes about driving in snow. They get lots of snow all winter and they don't let it stop their lives, so they drive in it. In Connecticut when the kind of snow that causes this comes along, people stay home.

Of course, in Texas, everyone panics and schools get closed for a slight dusting of snow. And in Arizona, forget snow, people freak out when it rains. So I suppose it's all relative.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

6214

I thought the original was pinned for archival sake. I think for convenience sake, we should pin this one up again.

16214

[Frdm920 50]

6215

A while back the lights were out at an intersection near me. I was rather surprised actually to see the cops there directing traffic because even though technically it is their job, they never do it

[astronelson 339]

6216.

I've seen police directing traffic before, but only at sporting events.

[NMUSpidey 3,956]

6217

Cops in my hometown are too busy trying to catch speeders to actually direct traffic.

[Duke87 1,070]

(6218)

In New York City you sometimes see cops directing traffic at busy intersections even if the light is working. They just direct people to do whatever the light says, but the point is that by having them there people will be far more inclined to actually properly obey what the light says - which is a problem particularly in Manhattan. People run red lights, people stop in the intersection and "block the box", turning traffic gets into battles with pedestrians crossing the street.

Driving in Manhattan is, shall we say... fun. Forget defensive driving, it'll get you nowhere. In New York you have to be aggressive and assertive.

[Larks2242 251]

6218.

A while back the lights were out at an intersection near me. I was rather surprised actually to see the cops there directing traffic because even though technically it is their job, they never do it

Its the flagman's job.

Although i guess cops do it in NY, cause everything is all police controlled there now.

[RipRap 4,400]

6220 (EDIT) Larks you have the wrong number

I rarely see a policeman directing traffic....

  Edited October 23, 2011 by 111222333444  

[Ocram's Razr 964]

6221

We have traffic cops who give out tickets and conduct traffic.

16221

[Duke87 1,070]

(6222)

I directed traffic myself on quite a few occasions when I was working for the City of Stamford. Around construction, though, not at an intersection.

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

6223

Directing traffic is surprisingly a dangerous job.

[Larks2242 251]

6224.

Chris Tucker makes it look easy.

[Duke87 1,070]

(6225)

Well, yes, any job that involves working in the road comes with the risk of getting run over. This is part of why you are in theory supposed to slow down for work zones.

[Ocram's Razr 964]

6226

I am not sure if Traffic Cops are regular Police Officers in the suburbs but they are a sub department in Seattle. The Sheriff often pulls people over in the suburbs. Plus we have all the nanny state driving laws that allows any police officer to pull over anyone driving no matter what: the anti DUI (drunk, buzzed, high etc driving), click it or ticket, speeding over 2 mph over the limit, and cell phone usage.

  Edited October 23, 2011 by OcramSeattle  

[RipRap 4,400]

6227

I'm not sure either... Sometimes volunteers are the ones directing traffic and sometimes police officers...

[Duke87 1,070]

(6228)

A cop can't pull you over if he doesn't see you breaking the law. And even then, there are some things you can be ticketed for but only if you're already pulled over for something else.

That said, things like seat belt laws are a bit nanny-statish.

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

6229

Chris Tucker makes it look easy.

:rofl: :rofl:

[Ocram's Razr 964]

6230

Because they can pull over people for 2 mph over the speed limit, a $10 fine can turn into a $1000 fine if no one is wearing a seat belt and the driver is using a cell phone without a hands free device. The traffic cops are within their rights to pull over pretty much any driver whatsoever, they tend to profile certain car models and driver demographics (they disproportionately pull over Asian cars, women, and minorities).

EDIT: Sniped/Ninja'd

16230

[Duke87 1,070]

(6231)

they tend to profile certain car models and driver demographics (they disproportionately pull over Asian cars, women, and minorities).

Apparently having a red car also makes you more likely to get pulled over. As does having tinted windows.

Then there's also more obvious appearance issues. My cousin used to have all sorts of bumper stickers for punk bands and radical political messages on his car. He kept getting pulled over quite frequently and the cops always gave him crap. Then a bit over a year ago he removed all the bumper stickers. He hasn't been pulled over since.

And my cousin compulsively obeys the speed limit, never pushes lights, etc. Meanwhile, I blatantly violate traffic laws all the time and in over five years of having my license I've still never been pulled over. But I drive a common, nondescript (American) car. I don't stand out.

Of course, it's not news that cops tend to think punks = hooligans up to no good (in my experience this is not entirely a fair assessment).

  Edited October 24, 2011 by Duke87  

[The Avatar 1,089]

6232

And then there's racial profiling which is just terrible. That was (and may still be, it probably is) an issue here in AZ. There was some Prop about the issue, but I can't remember what it was.

[RipRap 4,400]

6233

Arizona's tough immigration laws

[Larks2242 251]

6234.

Arizona's tough immigration laws

They are necessary, Arizona has alot of people come up to cause problems.

[Hamish 1,369]

6235.

So what kind of grace period do police in your areas allow for going over the speed limit, before they will start pulling you over and giving out tickets?

In New Zealand its 10kph over the speed limit and you will get pulled over. That is around 6 mph.

[astronelson 339]

6236.

We're given 8% to 10% in Australia, except in Victoria which only allows for 3km/h over the speed limit. Seeing as speedometers are permitted a 10% leeway in accuracy, Victoria's has caused some controversy.

[The Avatar 1,089]

6237

I think around 5mph is the limit for driving over the speed kimit in the U.S. Although, my mom got pulled over for going only around 5mph over. Must've been a really slow day for that police officer.

EDIT: Make that AZ, not the U.S.

  Edited October 24, 2011 by MamaLuigi945  

[Duke87 1,070]

(6238)

So what kind of grace period do police in your areas allow for going over the speed limit, before they will start pulling you over and giving out tickets?

In New Zealand its 10kph over the speed limit and you will get pulled over. That is around 6 mph.

In Maryland you have to be 12 mph (that's 19.3 kph) over the limit to be ticketed by a speed camera. But actual police can ticket you for being just 1 mph over the limit anywhere in the US... it's just that they go after faster people because higher over the limit = bigger fine.

In Virginia if you get pulled over going faster than 80 mph (~130 kph), they can actually give you a misdemeanor reckless driving charge (which means you then have a criminal record!) instead of a speeding ticket (which is just a moving violation). Result is that on interstates, that's the magic number. Faster, they'll pull you over. Slower, they'll leave you alone (most interstates in VA have a 65 mph speed limit but there are a few 70 mph sections).

In Connecticut the state troopers rarely set up speed traps so you can pretty much speed without consequence but in some places you have to worry about the local yokels off the freeway (usually in wealthier towns where the cops have nothing better to do).

In New York City the traffic makes it impossible to speed but you do have red light cameras to worry about and the cops are extremely vigilant about ticketing illegally parked cars (they have quotas they have to meet).

Oh, one other thing I didn't mention before about profiling: out of state plates. If you're from another state you are more likely to get pulled over, especially if the state you're from is fairly far away. Because they know you're not going to make another long trip to challenge the ticket in court.

  Edited October 24, 2011 by Duke87  

[RipRap 4,400]

6239

The state government charges outsiders more because they need money to run their area

[Larks2242 251]

6240.

Tourism tax?