> I was taught that when approaching a *green* light that you
> hadn't seen change to green you *always* slowed and changed
> down into 3rd (4-speed only days) just in case it was going to
> change against you. Not that I do it ...
That is referred to a a 'stale green light' and your plan is a good,
defensive scheme. In that case I don't know if there should be a
prescription for shifting but any experienced driver should EXPECT
that the light might change and drive accordingly. To me that means,
'prepare for a stop'. For the drivers in south Tulsa, that means, 'get
on the gas so you can beat it'.
> Yellow means 'stop unless unsafe to do so'. Red means 'stop in
> any event'.
Exactly.
I was taught to not enter an intersection if the light had gone
yellow UNLESS doing do reduced the likelihood of an accident
AND that you wouldn't run the red. Then again, one can't be
assured that the light won't go red if you enter it on yellow. I was
also taught that the lights were timed so that one could drive using
this plan and not violate the law. Enter it AFTER it goes yellow
and you run the risk of it changing to red before you clear the
intersection -- that being clearly a violation.
Lets throw another point in -- and this is one that bothers
me: Changing lanes WITHIN the intersection.
Where I grew up that act constituted 'careless driving' and if
other cars were in the intersection, 'reckless driving'. And
specifically, when a driver does not turn into his own lane when
turning, he has changed lanes within the intersection! That is
the SUV normal plan of action in Tulsa. It is very dangerous
to be in the outside-of-the-turn lane in a dual lane turn. You
can almost be assured of the driver in the inner lane turning into
YOUR lane -- through your car, if need be.
rick
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