What do you do when approaching traffic junction and light turns Amber ??

advaitlele · 9th September 2009, 14:16

Well thats the initial feeling.

Ditto for me today morning when I was approaching University signal from Aundh and that's a big longish signal in morning traffic situation. And I was in my normal speed - 50 kmph and saw the signal turning from Green to Amber. I put neutral and slowed down to stop at the light.

Signal is still Amber. What do you do in that situation?

The honking I got from the cab driver from behind was terrible and he started shouting as to why the hell did I stop at Amber light and as if only I had all the time in the world to stop at such a thing; and that made me feel if I had done anything wrong. I told him something loudly that immediately shut his mouth. I will post that if Mods permit; well no abuses and bad words; but something that must've embarrased him.

Should I have just cruised ahead or do what I did? What do you do?

tj123 · 9th September 2009, 15:53

[FONT=Arial]You did the right thing by stopping at amber and you should be proud that you are on the right side of law.
[/FONT]

straightdrive · 9th September 2009, 15:55

If I am approaching an amber light and there's no one in front of me I usually slow down first and wait till I am almost at the stop line before deciding to stop or not - so that if it is still amber by the time I reach the stop line I can continue. Amber usually lasts for three to five seconds, so you can often predict when it will turn red.

Sometimes the decision is made easier for you by the impatient ones from another road who get the green when you are on red - they would have started out when your light is still amber.

Anyway you haven't done anything wrong. Better safe than sorry and watch out for people like that cabbie who may rear-end you.

clevermax · 9th September 2009, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by advaitlele

I put neutral and slowed down to stop at the light.

Wrong way of slowing down from 50Kmph.

Surprise · 9th September 2009, 16:09

Decides based on the traffic conditions & the point where Iam, when it turns to amber. If Iam near the stop line, when it just turns amber, will move off. Also more importantly have to watch out for guys moving out from other sides, even when still 8-9 counts is left. Else will slow down and stop before the line.

Generally, the guy, who gets stuck behind me without enough space to cut my car at either sides, will shout at me. But Iam least bothered & busy watching ahead ignoring whatever that's happening behind me.

Usually, I get the guys, who rushed through the amber signal, stuck at the next signal

dr.faramroze · 9th September 2009, 16:17

Well, When I drive in Delhi, Vadodara, Surat or Bangalore, I stop at the line only after 3 seconds of amber light. I stop in Mumbai within the 1st second of the amber light switching.

sriku · 9th September 2009, 16:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevermax

Wrong way of slowing down from 50Kmph.

Yeah, I feel helpless if I am coasting in neutral, regardless the speed. I'd prefer some control in any gear. Just last night, I stopped at an amber on the Eastern Express highway at Godrej compound ( a signal I love to hate), and got honked and flashed at too. I simply turned up the music and waited for green. Sometimes, a reaction is simply unnecessary. Ignore the (insert colourful adjective here)'s as far as possible. Their obscenities are just a mirror to their own character, you don't have to reciprocate. Any screaming match will be won by the potty mouth more often anyways, so why bother? If you really want to drive him nuts, smile and wave back.

Cheers,
Sriku

sriku · 9th September 2009, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Surprise

Usually, I get the guys, who rushed through the amber signal, stuck at the next signal

OT:
@Surprise: I'm Tamil enough to be able to read your signature, but not enough to understand it entirely! Yelaien siripil (stem of leaf?) eraivanai kanalam(can find God?) It's beautiful and I really want to understand it. Please translate.

sgiitk · 9th September 2009, 16:48

If you see amber you should be prepared to stop, unless you will cross the stop line without a drastic manoeuvre (i.e stamping on the brake). You should never be in neutral except when changing gears, or (maybe) stopped.

Gilead · 9th September 2009, 16:49

I usually use my judgement in this situation. If I see the opposite side already moving after seeing my amber, I slow down and stop not matter what. If I don't see oncoming traffic when I see amber and I know for sure that I can safely get across, then I go for it.

debugged · 9th September 2009, 16:55

When I started driving bike, twice I was almost hit by the local buses when I stopped for amber light at the signal. From then on, It has become regular habit to slow down when light turns amber, check rear view to see if any heavy vehicle is behind and to stop only if I don't see one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sriku

OT:
@Surprise: I'm Tamil enough to be able to read your signature, but not enough to understand it entirely! Yelaien siripil (stem of leaf?) eraivanai kanalam(can find God?) It's beautiful and I really want to understand it. Please translate.

@sriku: It means in the you can see God in the smile/laughter of the poor, (yezhayin sirippil if that helps)

Gansan · 9th September 2009, 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by sriku

OT:
@Surprise: I'm Tamil enough to be able to read your signature, but not enough to understand it entirely! Yelaien siripil (stem of leaf?) eraivanai kanalam(can find God?) It's beautiful and I really want to understand it. Please translate.

O.T: Sriku, it is not a leaf (elai) but the poor ones (yelai/yezhai). Translated literally it means "you can see God in the happy smiles of the poor"!

When I approach a signal that is just turning amber, I will depress the brake pedal just enough to turn on my brake light and watch my rear, then brake fully and stop - even if the amber is still on. It will turn to red within a couple of seconds any way.

Shan2nu · 9th September 2009, 17:02

If i've already reached the crossing when the light turns amber, i go since its dangerous to stop in between but if im behind the white line, i wait till its geen again.

Shan2nu

sriku · 9th September 2009, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by debugged

@sriku: It means in the you can see God in the smile/laughter of the poor, (yezhayin sirippil if that helps)

Thanks for the phonetic help, its fantastic. I understand now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gansan

O.T: Sriku, it is not a leaf (elai) but the poor ones (yelai/yezhai). Translated literally it means "you can see God in the happy smiles of the poor"!

Thanks Gansan, much appreciated. Blame the elai/yezhai confusion on the "agraharam in Mumbai" Tamil that I'm used to.

Cheers,
Sriku

advaitlele · 9th September 2009, 17:12

I learnt something new today. It's been my practice for quite some years now to put my car in neutral and put brakes gradually coming to halt when I see green turning to amber and some distance to be covered till stop line. Will change the habit as suggested by gurus if its not a safe practice what I am following till now.

Now turning to the part what I said to the taxi driver. Here is what I did.

After turning the engine off (its a ~150 sec signal) I approached the taxi and told him verbatim "Aage Red Light area hai tumko jaana hai to jaao mereko nahi jaana hai". I waited for his reaction and noticed couple of smiling faces around. Well, there was no reaction from him, just rolled down the windows.

9th September 2009, 14:16	#1
advaitlele BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pune, Vadodara Posts: 528 Thanked: 464 Times	What do you do when approaching traffic junction and light turns Amber ?? Well thats the initial feeling. Ditto for me today morning when I was approaching University signal from Aundh and that's a big longish signal in morning traffic situation. And I was in my normal speed - 50 kmph and saw the signal turning from Green to Amber. I put neutral and slowed down to stop at the light. Signal is still Amber. What do you do in that situation? The honking I got from the cab driver from behind was terrible and he started shouting as to why the hell did I stop at Amber light and as if only I had all the time in the world to stop at such a thing; and that made me feel if I had done anything wrong. I told him something loudly that immediately shut his mouth. I will post that if Mods permit; well no abuses and bad words; but something that must've embarrased him. Should I have just cruised ahead or do what I did? What do you do?
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 15:53	#2
tj123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: BLR Posts: 1,158 Thanked: 692 Times	[FONT=Arial]You did the right thing by stopping at amber and you should be proud that you are on the right side of law. [/FONT]
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 15:55	#3
straightdrive BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 259 Thanked: 6 Times	If I am approaching an amber light and there's no one in front of me I usually slow down first and wait till I am almost at the stop line before deciding to stop or not - so that if it is still amber by the time I reach the stop line I can continue. Amber usually lasts for three to five seconds, so you can often predict when it will turn red. Sometimes the decision is made easier for you by the impatient ones from another road who get the green when you are on red - they would have started out when your light is still amber. Anyway you haven't done anything wrong. Better safe than sorry and watch out for people like that cabbie who may rear-end you. Last edited by straightdrive : 9th September 2009 at 16:01.
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 16:09	#5
Surprise Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,528 Thanked: 459 Times	Decides based on the traffic conditions & the point where Iam, when it turns to amber. If Iam near the stop line, when it just turns amber, will move off. Also more importantly have to watch out for guys moving out from other sides, even when still 8-9 counts is left. Else will slow down and stop before the line. Generally, the guy, who gets stuck behind me without enough space to cut my car at either sides, will shout at me. But Iam least bothered & busy watching ahead ignoring whatever that's happening behind me. Usually, I get the guys, who rushed through the amber signal, stuck at the next signal Last edited by Surprise : 9th September 2009 at 16:16.
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 16:17	#6
dr.faramroze BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Valsad/Mumbai Posts: 158 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	Well, When I drive in Delhi, Vadodara, Surat or Bangalore, I stop at the line only after 3 seconds of amber light. I stop in Mumbai within the 1st second of the amber light switching.
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 16:48	#9
sgiitk Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gurugram Posts: 7,971 Thanked: 4,796 Times	If you see amber you should be prepared to stop, unless you will cross the stop line without a drastic manoeuvre (i.e stamping on the brake). You should never be in neutral except when changing gears, or (maybe) stopped.
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 16:49	#10
Gilead Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,142 Thanked: 60 Times	I usually use my judgement in this situation. If I see the opposite side already moving after seeing my amber, I slow down and stop not matter what. If I don't see oncoming traffic when I see amber and I know for sure that I can safely get across, then I go for it.
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 17:02	#13
Shan2nu Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hubli - Karnata Posts: 5,533 Thanked: 125 Times View My Garage	If i've already reached the crossing when the light turns amber, i go since its dangerous to stop in between but if im behind the white line, i wait till its geen again. Shan2nu
	() Thanks

9th September 2009, 17:12	#15
advaitlele BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Pune, Vadodara Posts: 528 Thanked: 464 Times	I learnt something new today. It's been my practice for quite some years now to put my car in neutral and put brakes gradually coming to halt when I see green turning to amber and some distance to be covered till stop line. Will change the habit as suggested by gurus if its not a safe practice what I am following till now. Now turning to the part what I said to the taxi driver. Here is what I did. After turning the engine off (its a ~150 sec signal) I approached the taxi and told him verbatim "Aage Red Light area hai tumko jaana hai to jaao mereko nahi jaana hai". I waited for his reaction and noticed couple of smiling faces around. Well, there was no reaction from him, just rolled down the windows.
	() Thanks