It's getting to where I'm almost scared to drive anywhere. This was today coming home from lunch…

Was traveling at about 42ish, saw the light change from green to yellow when I was about 50-60' from the intersection, no big deal. Spotted the Green Cavalier coming up in the right turn lane… saw they weren't stopping for the yield sign… and of course she was on “gasp” her cell phone! might want to “save target as” first.
http://superjens.com/xterra/green.mpg

For those that are not familiar, I do have a camera mounted to the right of my rear view mirror hooked up to a VCR in the back that I start recording whenever I start the truck. I get a good piece of footage once or twice a week. But so far I have been lucky…

This is from a couple weeks ago, the gasp you here is Christine when she looked up from a magazine she was reading.
http://superjens.com/xterra/truck2.mpg

Sorry the files are so big, still trying to find the ideal setting for still have good video and audio.

Good stuff!

The truck driver probably should have made a right turn coming out of that driveway. Truck drivers should be more aware of blind curves, and that driver made a mistake.

That cavalier is just plain dumb. Do you have any friends in your local police dept? figure out that cavaliers lic plate and then have your buddies find their home address. Make a copy of the video and send it to them. Politely point out their error. I know if I got a video like that, I would definetly feel guilt and would be much more aware of my driving habits. But I know there are some real mentally challenged people out there and this wouldn't change them a bit.

(I have a friend who is a PD officer and whenever he is driving around and gets cut off or something, he remembers the plate # and when he gets into the office, he looks up the guys information. Then he give them a polite phone call and explained the situation (politely). 9 times out of 10, the people are very understanding and appologetic and vow to improve their habits.)

What do you expect? I dunno know about you, but if I got a call like that from a cop I wouldn't get all indignant and tell him I didn't do anything wrong, even if I felt that way...

Ramness, what card/software are you encoding with? Seems like the same pickle I'm in with my ATI All-In-Wonder, low audio volume and large file sizes.

Brent

That would be illigal
and if a local cop would do that to me , i would made sure his boss would know how he is using his Cop computers

I could be wrong, but I think there are laws that allows off-duty police officers some powers of their jobs. If they are allowed to carry guns while off-duty - why not look up a few lic #'s for traffic violations?

(Maybe its just for CA?)

The trailer video clearly shows that the driver of the Semi was pulling out and sitting there waiting for that car traveling in the opposite lane to pass to pull out and blocking your lane....But the funny thing is was why in the hell was he waiting and blocking your lane of travel when there was a middle turn off lane that he/she could have clearly used to prevent an accident from happening....

Now as far as the cavalier video goes,that's a hard one....the accidenct could have gone both ways...meaning in favor of if the accident did happen who would be at fault...Cause it does clearly show that the light turned yellow before you got to the intersection but it also clearly shows that the moron of the cavalier didn't make any attempt to slow down and yeild to on coming traffic...But if you would have crashed into the cavalier it would have been thier fault because you had the right of way....

See videos like that is what makes me hate driving because of morons like that...And I'm glad that you nearly avoided the both of them and no one was hurt,due the stupidness of someone's priveledges....

Good thing there wasn't anyone in the turn lane you used to escape the Cavalier. You might have had to choose between the Chevy (moron) and the innocent person in the turn lane.

Always hit the idiot.

While it wasn't your fault that woman pulled out, that light you blew through was VERY yellow. Show a cop that video and he may give YOU the ticket.

As for the second one, I think that was your fault. If you were going so fast around a blind corner that you had to swerve and lay on the horn when you realized there was someone there, you were overdriving conditions. What if instead of a truck there were two lanes of traffic backed up and stopped. You would have had nowhere to go. And that most definitely would have been your fault.

Wow. I had thought yellow lights weren't RED. Red meaning stop. Thats why they have yellow, as a warning RED is coming.

"Over driving conditions"? Seemed like normal conditions to me. I didn't see any 'blind curve' signs. Wasn't it a 4 lane highway with a center turn lane? Speed limit was probably 55. Truck driver got tired of waiting for his turn and pulled out. He should have been moving faster to get in the turn lane and swing his trailer out of the way of the approaching traffic.

A cop can give you a ticket for running a yellow that late. Oncoming traffic in the left lane waiting to turn is screwed if you run a yellow that late.

I suggest you watch it again. That truck is completely in the road before it even comes into view. Which means, when the truck pulled out, Ramness wasn't even in sight. That truck driver did nothing wrong. And it really doesn't matter. If there was a brick wall in the middle of the road and you were going too fast to see it around a corner, you're still at fault for overdriving conditions.

Actually in GA As long as you are across and out of the intersection by the time it is red you are fine. In working at a police department for many years I have never seen a ticket issued for running a yellow light... or entering on a late yellow... What kind of crazy laws do y'all have out there in CA?

Given how long that light was yellow, I'd be willing to bet it was red before you were out of the intersection. Regardless, you had way more than enough time to stop for that light.

From CA Motor Vehicle Code:

"21452. (a) A driver facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is, by that signal, warned that the related green movement is ending or that a red indication will be shown immediately thereafter."

Simple as that. It is not illegal in CA to enter the intersection on a yellow light provided your exit is clear.

Ramness570,

what's the angle of view from your lens? One of the problems with a "wide angle" lens (over 45 degrees) is that on casual viewing of the video it looks like you are driving way too fast. Do you know your actual speed on that traffic light incident?

I'd love to know how you surmise that he was 'over driving conditions'. What the hell does that mean?
Ramness could you tell us what the road condition was please. Wet/dry/snow/ice? Seems to me it was overcast and probably around 60 degrees?
I guess in California trucks don't un-expectantly appear in the highway as you round a curve? Or are all roads there straight? LOL

Oh and you said "That truck driver did nothing wrong." Nothing except failure to yield. Regardless of Ramness' speed, if he had hit the truck, the trucks at fault. Period.

A common misconception.
Turning traffic never, ever has right of way, unless they have an arrow (or are in England).

Only morons inch out into the intersection to make sure they get to turn when the light turns yellow. That is a 4 point 'failure to yield right of way' in every state. You can not cross the white line into the intersection until you have complete right of way, meaning, nothing is coming.

If the light turns yellow, and you are stopped, you are not allowed to enter the intersection.

Inching out into the intersection also decreases your viewable angle, making it harder to see what is coming.

Not trying to be a smart ass, but do you listen to Rodger Hedgecock? Reason I ask is the red light issue was debated for the traffic camera issue. It was determined that if you enter an intersection before it is red and you expect to get through without impedement, its okay.

I'll take this slow for ya. I don't know the exact stopping distance for the X, but let's say it's 140 or so feet from 60 mph. If you're doing 60 mph and can't see well over 140 feet in front of you, you are overdriving conditions. It's very simple really. It's common sense. If you're going around a corner at a speed that requires you to swerve around an obstacle because you don't have time to stop, you are overdriving conditions. It's like fog--if you can't see 150 feet in front of you, you shouldn't be doing 60 mph. I don't know how much simpler I can make it for you. Those 200 people who just piled up in the fog surprised me at first. But I guess, as you are an example, that thought process is normal.

Never heard of him. California doesn't have as big an issue because there are left turn arrows everywhere. Back in Michigan there are very few left turn arrows, so everybody has to wait until the light turns yellow before turning through a light. So when someone runs a really late yellow, everyone waiting to turn left is screwed.

When I said they were screwed, I meant that they had to wait another light cycle to make their turn. I didn't mean they had the right of way.

Well I guess we can all just assume that ILUVMYX is a perfect driver and always stops at yellow lights, slows for curves, drives the speed limit, and pulls over to the side of the road to change the radio station. I on the other hand am not by any means the perfect driver, nor have I ever claimed to be. I do my share of yellow light running, speeding, not completely stopping at stop signs when I'm the only one there (actually got pulled over for that once at 2am, I wasn't drunk so he didn't care).

Now today the speed limit on the road was 40 mph I was doing low 40s down it. It rained yesterday so there were some wet patches left but not any standing water. The intersection itself was dry for the most part except for that patch in the turn lane on the opposite side. As far as speed and braking goes I applied brake at aprox. the middle of the intersection and was stopped just after the line on the other side. I hit the bakes same time I hit the horn which was at 9 seconds, I was stopped by 12 I Don't know if you could hear it but ABS did its job and I still had full steering control. That lady didn't even flinch after that just kept right on talking on her phone, then passed the phone off to her passenger.

Oh and im not sure on the view angle of that lens, although with some string and protractor I should be able to tell you.

On the truck movie, not sure about the temperature. The ground was a little wet and the speed limit is 45. I had been doing about 55 prior to the curve, but I have had vehicles come out of that same driveway in front of me before so I had slowed down a little and changed to the left lane. On that one I probably could have come to a complete stop but with the wet ground I decided to just slow down a lot more and go around him.

Not quite. If the day comes when I submit two videos with the intention of showing how bad other people drive, but am myself at least partly to blame, feel free to give me as much grief as you want.

As they should. Waiting for a light to turn yellow, just so someone can sneak a left turn in is one of the more stupid things people do on the road. It delays the cross direction traffic from making their left turn on their green arrow, so it solves nothing.

The whole yellow light issue is state by state. In most states you CAN enter the intersection and wait on a yellow arrow. Some states allow you to be in the intersection on a red, IF you are already there. Some require you to be completely out of the intersection by the time the light turns red.

Yellow lights are simply a caution. They do NOT mean stop. They indicate a red is coming, or in the case of turn signals, that the right-of-way is ending.

Ian: there lots of intersections here that will make you wait 2-4 hours if you use your logic, of not entering the intersection and waiting for the yellow light

The law here ( NY, NJ...) you MUST go to the middle of intersection, and stop, and wait till Yellow light, ALOW cars who are going straight to finish they manevrs, and ONLY then make a left turn

I assume then from your statement that you leave more than 3 car lengths space between you and the guy in front of you at all times? That you drive as if a 53' trailer will suddenly appear across the road, not just in your lane? Wow, you are a perfect driver aren't you? I bet you keep your hands at 10 and 2 o'clock too. Good for you.

Lets look at the tape. Stop the tape right when the truck appears. They are under 200 feet apart. Look at the stripes on the road. The larger stripes are (for arguments sake) 3-4 feet long. The space in-between the larger stripes is at least the length of the X, say 9 feet. Looking at the tape I think a rough estimate of 150 feet or so is about right.

Since we know that the stopping distance of a X from 60 MPH is 125 feet we can surmise that at 55 MPH the X should stop in about 115 feet. Overdriving conditions, no, I don't think so.

He didn't lock it up and hope to stop. He braked and swerved to avoid the truck. Had he stomped on the brakes the X would have stopped a good distance before the trailer.

As for fog. I didn't see any fog or anything else hampering the view. Had the local police or roads department felt that the curve was 'blind' or was too sharp warning signs would be posted. There weren't any. They felt it is safe to travel that curve at the speed posted.

Is it not that way where you live?

You're still not getting it. I'm talking about lights where there are no turn arrows. You sit in a left turn lane, at the light, when it turns green you move forward into the intersection and wait for oncoming traffic to be clear before you make your left. At a busy intersection, you wait until the light turns yellow and oncoming traffic is clear, then you turn. Usually a few cars can make it before the light turns green for cross-traffic, but if someone runs a late yellow, nobody gets to go before cross-traffic has the right of way. That's the way most lights are set up in Michigan and other places where there aren't turn arrows.

You can't run a yellow. You run red lights. You go through a yellow or a green. You dont 'run' yellow or green lights.

And actually in the situation you described, you are not to pull in to the intersection. You are to stay behind the line till you can turn. People do what you described so they can sneak across. Those kinds of folks cause deaths. Do you do this?

And I thought you were the safest driver on XOC?

It's like that in my area,,,you run a yellow you get ticketed....

Another thing I'd like to point out that you guys keep missing is that if you look at that Trailer vid you see a turn off lane,well those turn off lanes also double as a turn in lane so to speak...Now why didn't the truck drive utilize that lane instead of blocking the whole damn 2 lane road??? no one has said anything about that,Am I the only one seeing that???????

Are you talking about the center lane? He IS turning into it.

And the truck isn't stopped in the middle of the road - he was already moving. Also look at the traffic - there's nobody in front of the xterra, that I can see. The truck thought he had enough space to get out there (and it's not like a truck can get speed quick).

There was nobody at fault here, in my opinion.

Although... 2 seconds into the video, you can see the truck. He (the xterra) had plenty of time to slow down to the point he wouldn't have had to go into the right hand lane.

Did you make it past 6th grade reading? I mean, your comprehension is absolutely horrible. I have to explain myself 12 times before you get a clue. If you are making a left at an intersection where there are no turn arrows, but there is a left turn lane, you are expected to pull into the intersection when the light turns green and wait for oncoming traffic to clear before completing your turn. Nobody is sneaking, and nobody is going "across" anything. Yes, I do this, as does everybody waiting to make a left turn at a light WHERE THERE ARE NO TURN ARROWS.

Ok we are at 2 days in a row… not as bad as yesterday though. Turn lanes are my friend!
http://superjens.com/xterra/day2.mpg

I think I'll stay home tomorrow.

And you say I have no clue?! Your too damn funny. No wonder California is so f*cked up. Re-read your drivers hand book, if its not over your comprehension level. To make this easier on you heres a page from the TN one.

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/graphics/chaptr7.pdf

Scroll down to the bottom of page 31. Look at the second sentence from the bottom. Pulling into an intersection while waiting for it to clear is ILLEGAL! Turn arrow or no turn arrow.....

Do you get that or should I explain it again?

OK, here it is from the California Handbook.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs22thru25.htm#turning
Huh, look at that. Doesn't say 'proceed into the intersection' does it?

Do you understand it now?

OK team other then Defib, who here has peeled somebody's face from being stuck to a windshield?, who has had to explain to someone's family that Johnny isn't coming home from the hospital?.....perhaps we watch the video's again and take from them the fact that we're happy a fellow X'er made it home safe w/ his girl, no medics were called out to run the job and drive the red bus and let's all try to be safe out there.......

...although running code 3 through a park on the grass and across a lawn is really cool. Almost as much fun as cutting off some idiots $500 leather jacket because he is having back pains.....after dumping his unregistered bike because he couldn't handle the burnouts and donuts he was doing in a school parking lot........ah life is good sometimes.

If the trucker had tried to pull into the center turn lane, he would have had to travel a significant distance against oncoming traffic in Ramness' lane before being fully merged into it, and would have caused Ramness to have MUCH LESS time to react since most if not all of the trailer would still be in his lane at that point before the entire length of the truck would have made it fully within the turn lane.

Brent

Ian, Burger ...
You are screaming that waiting in the middle of intersection for light to change RED, and then finishing LEFT turn is illigal ????

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter05-manual.htm
read the SECOND example on the page

Example: You want to turn left at an intersection ahead. A vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, going straight ahead. You must wait for approaching traffic to go through before you turn. You may enter the intersection, however, to prepare for your left turn if the light is green and no other vehicle ahead of you is preparing for a left turn (see "Turns" later in this chapter). When you enter the intersection, stay to the right of the center line. Keep your wheels straight to avoid being pushed into oncoming traffic should a rear end collision occur. [b]When approaching traffic clears or stops for a red light[\b], complete your turn.

So As you can see, EACH state IS different

AND THESE Videos, show NOTHING OUT OF ORDINARY
Ramness570 : why dont you come and drive in NY for day , you will have enough video fotage to last you a year.
I look a these videos, and some times wounder, what is that you are trying to show us , that was so scary or dangerous

(not meant as a personal attack)

I was wrong about you. I don't have to explain things 12 times. Maybe 13 times will work. Are you trying to be stupid? That thing you posted from California is about making left turns where there is NO LIGHT AT ALL! Read this... if you can:

(1)
About 100 feet from corner:
• Begin signalling
• Reduce speed

(2)
• STOP BEHIND LIMIT LINE
• Look left, then right, then left again.
• If safe, make turn.

Editted for content.

Hmm, I very clearly recall back in '89 or so when I got my license in TN that it was permitted to do just that, as long as you have a clear lane to turn into (don't get stuck out there). You do so at your own risk though, that was made clear. The example in the PDF there seems more applicable to an unsignalled intersection.

Brent

HUH WHY ????????

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/dmanual/chapter04-manual.htm

STEADY YELLOW: The light is changing from green to red. Be ready to stop for the red light.

but it dont say you HAVE to stop on Yellow !!!

Its easy for me to say this now, but the "Correct" thing for the truck to have done would be to make a right turn out of the driveway and then make a u-turn someplace down the road.

Ramness,
You said you have had problems in the past with this spot with cars/trucks coming out blinding and becoming a target for a broadside accident. I would suggest that they put a sign there informing drivers to make a right turn instead of a left. They could even go as far as putting in an R17 sign at the driveway exit, and make it illegal to make left turns.



One of my projects that I am working on is on US101 in Novato,CA. There is a driveway exit similar to this. Over the last few years there have been many serious accidents (a few fatalities) involving trucks exiting and making left turns. What the local authorities did was restrict the left turn movement and force the trucks to make right turns and then a U-turn later on.

It only costs your local public works office a few hundred dollars to install an R17 sign. Contact their office, and send them a copy of your video and an explanation of how unsafe the road design/opperation is. That is a quick fix that can quickly be handled. (shoot, if you can get an email address for your public works director, just email him the video)

Personally, I have a class-B drivers license to operate buses. Whenever I encounter situations like this - I know my bus is huge and is a sloth when it comes to acelerating. So I usually opt to make a right turn instead of a left. Unless I see a big gap (and I mean really big) in traffic and I know that there is enough time for me to complete that left turn safely.

Find in your states handbook where it talks about turning at a light? Find those rules and show me the link. Hmm, must be that ANY left turn is covered by the statement you posted above. Here, I'll repeat it for you.

(2)
• STOP BEHIND LIMIT LINE
• Look left, then right, then left again.
• If safe, make turn.

If that doesnt work try this.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs16thru17lawsandrules.htm#traffic
Scroll to the description of a green light.

Clear enought for you now?
Editted for content.

Thank you for posting that. Thats the first written proof of what we've been discussing. I stand corrected for my statements, in N.Y.. I'm still trying to find such an accurate description in CAs or TNs handbook.

I'm the moron? Then help me out here. You're saying the above statement covers all left turns? So you're also telling me that when you come up to a green light, you stop behind the line, look left, look right, and then look left again? Then you make your turn? Who's a moron?

Seeing as it is election day... I vote for you.
:p

I don't see the point to this debate. Common sense should be used when driving.

Where is that "if you win an internet argument" image.. We need it here.. STAT!!

... ANY left turn is covered by the statement you posted above. Here, I'll repeat it for you.

(2)
• STOP BEHIND LIMIT LINE
• Look left, then right, then left again.
• If safe, make turn.
---------------------------------------------

This doesn't apply if there is a priority left turn pocket/lane provided. (meaning that you get the green arrow light and there is a special lane for left turns.) You don't have to stopm but its still a good idea to look L,R,L to see if its clear.

With every post you prove yourself dumber. If you read back on all my posts you will see that I've said numerous times that I'm talking about Michigan where many lights don't have turn arrows. That completely irrelevant thing you posted doesn't shed light on anything discussed so far. Of course you saw the word "yellow" and "light" and figured that was enough to prove your point.

Editted for content.

From Michigan's handbook: Michigan Driver\'s Handbook

A red light means stop. It is at the top of a
traffic signal in Michigan. Stop the vehicle
behind a crosswalk or stop line. A yellow light
means the green signal has ended and the signal
is about to turn red. You are required to stop on a
yellow light. If you cannot stop safely, do not
speed up but drive cautiously through the
intersection. A green light means proceed
cautiously after checking for pedestrians and
vehicles.

Seriously watch the video again,he pulls out really slowly to let the car in the opposite lane pass before he pulls into that lane....What I am pointing out is why didn't the truck pull into the turn off lane to not block the road and make it easier to merge into the lanes he's trying to travel down....

It looks to me like he is trying to do that?

I agree Carlton, someone will post that for sure.

Although I think my counter part is an idiot I appreciate his enthusiasm. I think I'm right, you think you are. Fine, we disagree. I have enjoyed this little debate; it kept me entertained while at work.

I’m at home now and have better things to do than to argue with you. So good day dip shit and if it makes you feel better, you win. Your parents will be proud.

You sure have. You've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you should come to a complete stop, check both ways, and then proceed to make your turn... when coming to a stop sign. Unfortunately your examples mean nothing when it comes to traffic lights.

The Cavelier blasted right through a red light. End of story.

As for the truck, unless I was there I can't tell who's really at fault. Regardless you were able to avoid it, so no harm no foul there either. Although, perhaps a tad fast for a (no pun intended) semi-blind curve.

Idiots are everywhere...I swear half the drivers here in CA are freekin' clueless.

This has been an incredible thread... lots of rambling... some good editting material for me and perhaps someday we may all just get along. :p

Short of me locking this thread, personal insults/threats are not tolerated... comments are fine, but man this horse has been beat, slaughtered and shredded many times over. Is there no other good video to critique... anyone?

Sounds like CA has laws similar to BC. If you're approaching an intersection and the light turns amber, you're obligated to stop, IF you can safely do so. This allows left-turning traffic to clear the intersection.

In the video it looks to me like it's a situation where you could safely bring the vehicle to a stop - but it's sometimes hard to compare video to reality.

Sorry for my late post. I was interrupted by the phone and didn't get round to sending it off for a bit....surprised to see the # of posts in front of it......

OK - here's another video for you all to critique...and I could have made $500 from this little snippet:

http://videoserver.hot4x4.ca/Jens/Tutu.mpg

(Jens, I haven't posted this anywhere else but here amongst "friends"....I promise )

I did a search but found nothing. Just wondering if you have any pics of your setup. I'm ordering a few xcams and just wanted to see how concealed you have your cam. I'll be putting a cam (hopefully) somewhere around the front dash, and somewhere around the rear hatch connected to a laptop in the cargo area. I just can't figure out where to put the cams so that they're well concealed. I guess it might help if I actually had the cams in my posession.

Is this the image you are referring to?

for what its worth, in TX you can pull past the stop line, in a turn lane with no protected left (green arrow) and wait for the traffic to clear to make your left turn. It is a legal way to run a red light, more or less. the delay between your yellow changing to red and the cross traffic's red turning green is 2 or 3 seconds, plenty of time for you to either a) finish your turn and be out of the way, or b) at least show your intent to turn to the cross traffic, who must yield to you, as this is considered a legal turn. this was taught to me in driver's ed years ago, and from what I see around here in Dallas it still applies. You are however running the risk that some idiot will run the red and t-bone you, but you run that risk on a protected left too. some places around town here it really is the only way youll get left unless you wait up to and including 4 cycles for the next protected left. I have never seen anyone even come remotely close to getting hit doing this. maybe the delay isnt as long other places due to the law being different, but here i would say it is a fairly safe maneuver.

my .02
michael