Quote:
Originally Posted by photo1902
I don't need to justify my opinion to you. I feel certain intersections need to be controlled by traffic arrows. My opinion, yours is different. Big deal.
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No big deal at all. My point was simply that adding those "controls' may have unintended consequences, and that by making the turn safer, you may make the end of the turn line less safe. I think you may have misunderstood my original point, and perhaps I worded it poorly. I believe you took my post to advocate unsafe turns to save a few minutes. Far from it. Each time you approach these turns is a bit different, and the driver needs to exercise judgment and an awareness of his surroundings.
Let me use turning left on BV from heading west on 466A as an example:
I can see the light from over a mile away--this gives me a gestalt on whether the light will turn when or shortly after I arrive. If it is obvious that it is going to turn red, I even slow down a bit , let it change and wait for the arrow. As I approach the turn lane, even before entering it, I am observing and evaluating the traffic flow in the other direction. I know in advance if this is going to be an easy turn or near impossible, again , in the latter case, I stop short of the intersection and wait for the arrow. If the traffic in the other direction is light, I will pull up to the center line of the intersection, since I will be able to turn, and only rarely do I have to turn on yellow since I know what is coming in the other direction. Also, never turn your wheels left until you start to turn, otherwise you run the risk that a distracted driver will rear end you and push your car into the path of oncoming traffic. Even as I'm driving along 466A, I avoid riding side by side with another car--they are too unpredictable and there is very little reaction time if they do something stupid. I've been driving for 45 years and have never been in an accident BECAUSE I am aware of my surroundings, despite driving in NYC and Long Island most of those years.