A firefighter almost got me killed

[TexasT]

I may be completely at fault here, and if I am, please tell me, but I don't know how I could've better handled it.

Apparently there was a minor accident not too long ago in an intersection I was at because there were fire trucks there, blocking all lanes. There was a fire fighter guiding traffic around the trucks as the trucks were leaving. I was about 5-6 cars back in the left turn lane.

So the firefighter waved all the cars in front of me through and starts waving me through, but *after I was already pulled into the intersection*motions stop. I think, "No biggie, he's just saying that because this truck needs to be in my way for a sec. When that clears, he'll wave me through, right?" Wrong! He jumps into the truck and leaves!

Right then, the cross traffic light turns green and cars are coming at me, barely missing me as they're having to go around me in the intersection. I start motioning to the car behind me (which I'll car Green*) to back up so I can back into the lane again, and he doesn't budge even though there's no one behind him. I'm crying and am terrified. One of the cars that has to pull around me is a cop car, who looks at me like I'm an idiot, but doesn't give me a ticket, thank goodness.

I started backing up, inch by inch, hoping that Green would get a hint, and he doesn't. A car pulls up behind him (I'll call Red*), sees what's going on, and starts honking at Green while yelling out the window at him to back up. Finally, Green around me and goes straight through the light (which was red), giving me enough room to back up safely. Thank goodness, too, because the light for the traffic going through from the other direction turned green right about then.

Thank you Red!

*Made up because this was over a year ago and I have no idea what colors they were.

[Gaki]

I don't know about where you live but where I live you cannot EVER stop in the middle of an intersection when the light is red or if someone tells you to stop to let other cars go. BECAUSE this is such a hazard for everyone. So say you're in the left turn lane like you were and the light is green but you can't go because there are other cars coming at you, you inch out into the intersection because as soon as the light turns red, YOU HAVE TO GO.

He was wrong to have stopped you in the middle of the intersection, you should have just gone. He probably had no experience or business directing traffic at that time anyway.

[mikoyan29]

If I remember correctly from Driver's Ed, the situation that seems closest is when you are making a left turn and there is no arrow. You are supposed to creep into the intersection while the light is green. If people do what they are supposed, turn when the light turns yellow. If they don't, you are supposed to go through when the light is red. You aren't supposed to back into the other way.

[LillFilly]

I hate people who have no clue directing traffic; has happend to me twice! I know how upsetting it can be when they make YOU feel like the boob.

[crazylegs]

What the firefighter should have done is made sure the intersection was clear before hopping back into his wagon.

It's normally much easier (and safer) just to close the road anyhow.

[Pagan]

If I remember correctly from Driver's Ed, the situation that seems closest is when you are making a left turn and there is no arrow. You are supposed to creep into the intersection while the light is green. If people do what they are supposed, turn when the light turns yellow. If they don't, you are supposed to go through when the light is red. You aren't supposed to back into the other way.

Do that and you had better hope that where you are doesn't have red light cameras.

And I was taught that you don't enter an intersection unless you can clear it on the green.

[Geek King]

Do that and you had better hope that where you are doesn't have red light cameras.

And I was taught that you don't enter an intersection unless you can clear it on the green.

For what its worth, I was taught as mikoyan--the turn lane should take the intersection, and turn as possible. This insures that at least a couple cars get through on each light cycle for those intersections where they don't use dedicated turn lights. No infraction is incurred if the light turns while you are already in the intersection, as there is a programmed delay where all lights are red so the intersection can clear.

If you are going straight through, then I was taught to not enter the intersection unless you can clear it. Not that most people around here care.

[Pagan]

For what its worth, I was taught as mikoyan--the turn lane should take the intersection, and turn as possible. This insures that at least a couple cars get through on each light cycle for those intersections where they don't use dedicated turn lights. No infraction is incurred if the light turns while you are already in the intersection, as there is a programmed delay where all lights are red so the intersection can clear.

Yeah, but, like I said, we've got red light cameras here. And all of the intersections that they're on have dedicated turn lanes and lights. If you are sitting in that intersection when the light turns red, you are going to get a ticket for running it. Same if you're going straight through. Enter on yellow, don't clear by red, get a ticket.

[mikoyan29]

Yeah, but, like I said, we've got red light cameras here. And all of the intersections that they're on have dedicated turn lanes and lights. If you are sitting in that intersection when the light turns red, you are going to get a ticket for running it. Same if you're going straight through. Enter on yellow, don't clear by red, get a ticket.

Many of the lights around here don't have the green arrow. So basically, you're supposed to go on the yellow. IF the traffic hasn't stopped then, you're supposed to go before the cross traffic does.

[Andara Bledin]

Do that and you had better hope that where you are doesn't have red light cameras.

And I was taught that you don't enter an intersection unless you can clear it on the green.

Red Light cameras (at least all that I've encountered) don't take pitures until just before and after the light turns red. If your car is in the intersection before the red, then you shouldn't be getting a ticket. A co-worker got one a few years back, and I've gone through the same intersection late enough that if they just caught people in the intersection when it went red, then I should have gotten one, too, but I didn't. It's only if it's red before you enter the intersection, because they have no way of knowing when you entered it.

And in the case of non-assisted left turns with oncoming traffic, you are allowed to enter the intersection, even if it appears that you will be unable to turn at all until the oncoming traffic has stopped due to the light turning red.

However, if a light turns yellow, and you can safely come to a complete stop prior to entering the intersection, then you are supposed to do so, even if you stop before the light turns red.

Many of the lights around here don't have the green arrow. So basically, you're supposed to go on the yellow. IF the traffic hasn't stopped then, you're supposed to go before the cross traffic does.

If cross traffic enters the intersection while you are still attempting to turn, then (at least in California) they are "running the green" which is the same penalty as running a red light.

I would be very much surprised if this was notably different in the rest of the country.

^-.-^

[Pagan]

I would be very much surprised if this was notably different in the rest of the country.

Gotta remember this is New Mexico. If we can figure out a cock-angle way to do it, we will. Which includes getting a ticket if you entered the intersection on a yellow and are still sitting there when it turns red.

Oh, yeah, some of them are speed cameras, too. Which just doubles the fun....not.