Yes Herb, I've seen those. They are better than nothing, but you have to keep slowing as you don't know if someone else is approaching and which, if any, road has priority. If one road was to be on Green and the other a definite Stop, then Proceed if Safe, traffic on the main road wouldn't have to  keep slowing, as the other roads would be no different than any road with a Stop sign at the end.

SteveW - When it comes to traffic lights at quiet times at night, I have been to some countries where the traffic lights just flash amber, therefore suggesting approaching the junction with caution.

There are many junctions, but by no means all, where stopping and then turning left on red would be okay. It would make sense to simply place a marker on the post to indicate where this is allowed.

 

Another suggestion, that I've made before, is that at quiet times (probably night only, but possibly in the day in some areas), main roads could stay on continuous green, with lesser roads showing some form of stop and proceed.

Could you imagine the carnage at The Trafford Centre?? There are lots of foreign visitors to this area and having had a bump there myself, I could not agree less.

Dave - With talk like you have been giving, have you any thoughts of standing to be a Member of Parliament?

The more you think about it, wouldn't work as we all tend to race up to green lights so we can get through. And would cause more accidents as the UK as a whole is full of selfish drivers who only think about getting too there destination at all costs a couple of minutes early rather than be more careful, What people need to remember is that all car and van drivers have to pay  the same money to be on the road so just be relaxed and let other traffic flow as well.

But they don't help as well as they might Dave, turning left on red would ease traffic by a lot except, as has been mentioned, I worry about the poor standard of driving and the blame culture causing chaos which is a real shame.

Dave - Have you now turned this into a joke item?

Thinking about it, I bet we don't have it in the UK because traffic lights are used to assist the flow of traffic.

Herb, you can pass traffic on either side already. What you aren't allowed to do is undertake which is of course quite different.

Having driven a lot in the US I also think the system is good but on the other hand when I think about the driving standards in UK I am not so sure.

Dave - I also wish we could implement this rule in the UK. I think it is great, in fact I have been known to turn right against a red light, then do a u-turn so I can do the same again at the same lights, just for the fun of it. (Remember this 'right' turn would be a 'left' turn in the UK) I also think we should be able to pass on either side on a motorway or dual carriageway, as they can in the USA.

It should be pointed out that this is a turn only rule, in your case, left. You cannot go in any other direction.

This works perfectly well here in Canada too and should be adopted in the UK as a proven traffic rule.