'A DRIVER LACKING IN SKILL, HUMOUR AND PATIENCE TRAVELS THE ROUGHEST ROAD'.
Priority, on the Monarch's highway, already has been accessed in the section about roundabouts . On November 5th 1927 the first, automatic traffic lights in Britain were commissioned at Prince Square cross roads in Wolverhampton. However, that is only the beginning of the complexity and anything simple is ultimately made difficult by inept, im-patient people. For this reason, the suspended, 'winking-wily', amber light, simultaneously flashing in four directions, might, just, be the more safe if extra care is taken at a time when priority is not available in any one direction. Nevertheless, because of im-patience, or a lock of application, by two drivers at the same time at the same place, it creates an un-solved problem. Traffic lights should be safer but.
Approaching 'lights on green how many drivers are un-decided if or not the light will changes to red? All too many; especially if their speed is excessive and the ir-responsible driver is of the opinion that he 'can just make it' even if the colour does change to red. This 'can I, can't I' mentality is quickly answered - NO every time. NO. Life is too short for games of chance. Rushing at traffic lights, is a killer.
There are 'blind' crossings, where vision is not possible, and 'open' junctions where vision is good in both direction. Nevertheless, it is not logical stopping a vehicle in preference to a none-existent vehicle.
An important tip is always watching the light at the far side of the road - never the close instrument - it gives a driver that little, extra thinking time. A driver will, never ever have heard this piece of advise!
A statistic must be that 88% of drivers are colour blind. Why. because so many drivers approach traffic lights, showing Red, at un-diminished speed. Either these drivers are colour blind or they are not paying attention. The Golden Rule!
The driving-test was firstly introduced on June 1st 1935 with cashes remaining high suggesting that driving instruction might not have been good. This is why we are reading this information now, hopefully absorbing the intricacies of driving; it is the driver who has to make the effort, no effort - no drive. Un-fortunately, learning to drive a motor car correctly, and safely, and reducing crashes, is un-likely to disappear unless the proper effort is made appropriately, but how many organisations are interested?
It will be noticed that the Nation abolished the HALT sign, substituting 'give way' which merely means 'keep moving' at all costs and it is costly repairing a vehicle!
Similarly, it is not logical giving priority to pedestrians. It is dangerous. This is another case of 'opposing opposites'.
'The days of experience are every day!'