How do these traffic lights work?

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Gaz{M}

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Ok, I'll admit it. I'm completely confused on what the law states regarding these traffic lights that are all over Centurion for some reason.



I will refer to the "LEFT" light unit and the "RIGHT" light unit. Note the arrow signs above each light (supposedly indication which direction the red/green or yellow refers to.)

Tradionally, you used to get a "LEFT" light unit with 3 colours (red,yellow,green) and a RIGHT light unit with two colours (green arrow, yellow arrow). But these traffic lights are different. Now you get a "LEFT" light unit with 3 colours (red, yellow, green ARROW pointing straight on) and a "RIGHT" light unit with 3 colours (red, yellow, GREEN arrow pointing to the right.)

Ok, so I approach the light, and I want to turn right. The "LEFT" light unit is green arrow straight ahead. The "RIGHT" light unit is RED.

I stop and wait. Many people seem to simply ignore the red and turn right in a gap between oncoming traffic.

Who is correct?

Logically, if it were a simple single light stack that is green, then you can turn right across oncoming traffic. So why have they confused everyone and created these monsters?
 

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So what you're doing is correct.

From what I understand, they introduced these lights to try and limit the number of cars sitting in the middle of an intersection - various reasons for this.

So in the picture you posted, if you were turning right, and the light with the right arrow on top of it is red, you are not allowed to enter the intersection and must stop behind the white line (regardless of whether the light with the straight ahead arrow is green or not)
 
You treat it as though arriving at one of two separate intersections.

If you're going straight - you adhere to to the light indicating straight.
If you're turning right - you adhere to the light indicating right.

Tho in CPT I've mostly only seen these double lights on roads where bus lanes have been introduced.
 
saor said:
You treat it as though arriving at one of two separate intersections.

If you're going straight - you adhere to to the light indicating straight.
If you're turning right - you adhere to the light indicating right.

Tho in CPT I've mostly only seen these double lights on roads where bus lanes have been introduced.
Click to expand...

CoCT has a couple, and yes many are situated by the designated bus lanes, especially there in Milnerton and its surroundings.
 
Its not rocket science ffs..

The arrow shows the direction of travel, and the lights show whether you can travel in that direction or not.

These lights are popping up all over the place in Durban now as well, and people seem to be unable to understand them at all, I've seen more than a few drivers almost have accidents because they ignore the lights and do whatever they want...
 
Most people drive through (right) even when the arrow right light is red as soon as the road in front of them is clear. It is obvious how it should work.
 
TheJman said:
So what you're doing is correct.

From what I understand, they introduced these lights to try and limit the number of cars sitting in the middle of an intersection - various reasons for this.

^^^ Yea I thought this , gridlocks usually start at intersections
Click to expand...
 
ToxicBunny said:
Its not rocket science ffs..

The arrow shows the direction of travel, and the lights show whether you can travel in that direction or not.

These lights are popping up all over the place in Durban now as well, and people seem to be unable to understand them at all, I've seen more than a few drivers almost have accidents because they ignore the lights and do whatever they want...
Click to expand...
Your (well, not you, but everyone) mistake is thinking that they don't understand- they do. They simply ignore it. When we see road users (not just taxi's) skipping the red- and it happens more times in a one-way commute than I care to count- on a "normal" traffic light, why on earth would you think this would be any different?
 
SykomantiS said:
Your (well, not you, but everyone) mistake is thinking that they don't understand- they do. They simply ignore it. When we see road users (not just taxi's) skipping the red- and it happens more times in a one-way commute than I care to count- on a "normal" traffic light, why on earth would you think this would be any different?
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Nah... There is a lot of misunderstanding involved (at least for the first 6 months of the lights running)... after that its plain unlawful behaviour.

You can see it when people hesitate at the lights and such...
 
I guess the reason people just turn right even if it is red, is because often there is almost no oncoming traffic and there is no logical reason why you can't go - we all sit there staring at an empty road.
 
I think a lot of people are so used to using an intersection in a particular way that when it changes, they don't notice and are on auto pilot - but agreed, some people really are selfish on the roads and completely disregard any rules.

I've had plenty of threats from people when I stop at the red to turn right, shouting and swearing at me and the works...
 
How long do the green turn arrows flash for? With some traditional robots it's only like 2 seconds & there's barely enough time for one car to turn...
 
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