Driving through intersections when the traffic lights are out
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When I was growing up in California (pre-PRC) the drivers there were among the most courteous and alert anywhere. That started changing in the early 80s, as the Left Coast became gruesomely overcrowded, and impatient people became more engrossed in beating some imaginary timeline that laws and courtesy went out the passenger window. There was also a huge influx of foreigners who were untrained in our ways, and who came from very different cultures, at the same time. Traffic laws became optional about then, though we all still maintained our tradition of driving very, very fast on wide open highways.:-D Here in Arizona, almost no one actually stops at a stop sign; they do what has long been called (incorrectly) a California stop. It's sort of a rolling gesture intended to allow the driver to make a sudden stop if he happens to spot a cop, but otherwise run the stop sign whether it's safe to do so or not. It wasn't like that in CA long ago, but now it's nearly universal - Arizonans and the tourists from the PRC alike. Some people think of it as a six-pack; I consider it more of a support group.
Heh-heh. We sort of do something similar in New Jersey in regards to a rolling stop. Except we do actually stop but just for about a full second or two. If there's a cop you just keep your foot on the brake a couple of seconds longer. Not the typical (lawful) three or four seconds average. You come up on a stop sign at a faster speed than normal, hit your brakes to stop for a second, then go if it's safe. Obviously a habit designed to get you through the intersection faster. In Minnesota they go through yellow lights to red consistently so that when it turns red everyone knows to wait about two seconds if you're stopped at a light and it turns green. When I first got to New Jersey, I kept up the behavior for a while until my native New Jerseyan passengers kept complaining.
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Absolutely incorrect. From Dictionary.com:
right of way also right-of-way (rtv-w)
n. pl. rights of way or right of ways also rights-of-way (rts-) or right-of-ways (-wz)The right to pass over property owned by another party.
The path or thoroughfare on which such passage is made.
The strip of land over which facilities such as highways, railroads, or power lines are built.
The customary or legal right of a person, vessel, or vehicle to pass in front of another
I never heard that explanation before (the one you mentioned) but I could see where that could be misunderstood to mean what you thought. Interesting. But, I always thought that "right of way" meant the "right" to do something like the "right" to go first.
This is how I associated right of way with who goes first in an intersection [^] Steve
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So, what is it with people here in Rhode Island? The lights are out, the traffic lights are out, and people zoom through intersections at 40-50 MPH!!! In CA, the rule was, treat the intersection as if it were a 4 way stop sign. Isn't that the same in all the states? Marc Microsoft MVP, Visual C# MyXaml MyXaml Blog
I came across this - maybe is helps to explain things: LAW: It is required by law that you make a loud noise when passing a car on the left. COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Rhode Island CITATION: §31-15-4 Overtaking on left. ACTUAL: The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules stated in this section: (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give a timely, audible signal and shall pass to the left at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of the front vehicle on the audible signal of the overtaking vehicle shall give way to the right, and shall not increase speed until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. Steve
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I came across this - maybe is helps to explain things: LAW: It is required by law that you make a loud noise when passing a car on the left. COUNTRY: USA / STATE: Rhode Island CITATION: §31-15-4 Overtaking on left. ACTUAL: The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction, subject to those limitations, exceptions, and special rules stated in this section: (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall give a timely, audible signal and shall pass to the left at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle. (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of the front vehicle on the audible signal of the overtaking vehicle shall give way to the right, and shall not increase speed until completely passed by the overtaking vehicle. Steve
:omg: Where did you find that? You mean I'm supposed to honk my horn when passing someone? Geez, I might as well just keep it constantly blaring then! Marc Microsoft MVP, Visual C# MyXaml MyXaml Blog