UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

If it's going from red to green and no-one is on the crossing you are allowed mate, my driving instructor told me that.

watch out for dodgy info given out by driving instructors.... some of them dont have a clue

that's one point lost on the theory test again ...

pelican crossing:
red = stop
green = go, if way is clear
solid amber = stop if you can do so without causing an accident
flashing amber = stop if anyone is on the crossing, or proceed if it is clear

basically when it's flashing it operates the same as a zebra crossing, but you don't have to - and indeed aren't supposed to - stop and/or wait for anyone who's on the pavement next to it but haven't stepped out into the road.

toucan crossings or any of the other gimpy pedestrian crosswalks which dont flash, the colours mean exactly the same as any other lights.

the average driving instructor isnt too bad, but they can have some funny ideas... and remember, just like with taxi drivers.... their job title is "driving instructor". thats what they do for a living. they didnt qualify for, or care to become/train to be a regular teacher, or a police officer, doctor, scientist or technician, office staffer, cook, etc...
no offense meant to any actual driving instructors reading - after all, you managed to turn the computer on

Tahrey1043 wrote:that's one point lost on the theory test again ...

Who for?

mysteryboy wrote:watch out for dodgy info given out by driving instructors.... some of them dont have a clue

never a truer word spoken....

my mates driving instructor told him it would damage the starter motor if you turned an engine over with the clutch down......erm.....HOW?

Another said the the low gears were 4th and 5th......and another I know of said that you should always depress the clutch and coast round slow corners....hmmmm

(and as Tahrey1043 said, no offence to any driving instructors reading!)

i know what you guys mean.... some of the things that my friends have told me that their instructors have told them make me think "no wonder there are so many bad drivers on the road".
My dad's a driving instructor, but was ex traffic cop, so he knows what he's on about... and hes currently doing a degree in advanced driving.

i think i got lucky with mine, he didn't spout too much nonsense

there were still a couple things i cocked an eyebrow at and roundly ignored for the test and all points after (except when i did pass plus with the same guy) but mostly good...

the lost point was for whoever couldn't remember what you should do at a pelican crossing - don't kids get taught how they work any more? it's as important for pedestrians to understand the rules of road crossings as for drivers.

I know what to do, If it's Green - Go, Amber - Stop if it's safe to do so, Red - Stop, Flashing Amber - Go if it is clear or no-one is waiting to cross, then back to Green

beautyfiend wrote: Incidently, my driving has been a bit horrendous since the scare- when I see a set of green lights ahead, I'm actually slowing down 'cos I'm scared to death it's gonna turn amber at the last minute and catch me out... it's a right pain in the @rse!!

You're actually supposed to slow down on approach to a set of traffic lights (well... at least during a driving test) that way you can "react" quicker to the light changes. If this is in the highway code (cant be bothered to check and make sure ) then it'll reduce the chances of getting caught running reds.

Every now and again I do, that way there's more channce of getting through before they change

CymruPolo wrote: Yeah that's true. But I find myself (and I'm sure I'm not the only one!) speeding up to reach traffic lights before they turn red

Speeding up results in perhaps exceeding the speed limit, reducing the amount of space to stop if the lights change, increasing the chances of running a red which may lead to causing an accident.
All I can advise is to drive safely... say the person pulling off from the other green light was in a rush and pulls out whilst u run the red... thats when accidents happen.
But obviously traffic lights are built in with a buffer time to prevent this from happening unless you blatantly run a red.

Tahrey1043 wrote:and if the lights are broken and stuck on red, or badly sited/sequenced (such as the ones by my local 24hr supermarket) such that you're made to wait for several minutes for no reason, with no safety benefit?

Reminds me of the time I was coming back from Northampton... this red light before the train crossing was on a red for a good 5mins+ A police car was behind me so I just sat there patiently... however one of the cars in front didnt see the cop car and just had enough and pulled away from the lights (whilst still on a red) and the cop car eventually caught up with him to have a word... probably depends on the mood of the coppers whether of not "I thought the lights were broken" would get you a warning or an actual caution

Do you guys ever pull out of running a red and just stick it in 3rd and slow down extra quick?
I usually do my power braking rather than jump the red.