Traffic lights

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Do you have a traffic light that just seems to change to red when you approach? What about one that always changes to green when you near the intersection? Tell us about the worst traffic lights in the county (northern SB included)

To me, it doesn't matter from which direction I come from, I always get stopped at W. Branch and Rancho Parkway (between Wal-Mart and Trader Joe's) in Arroyo Grande.

Last Thursday I had to go to Grover Beach and took Grand Ave. Seems all the lights were in my favor in AG but after crossing Oak Park Blvd, things changed and I got stuck at every light past 10 Th St.

Tell us what traffic lights or signals you don't like!!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by sebringlovr on February 9, 2010 at 3:33pm: the freeway 101 onramp/overpass in nipomo!! OMG, the traffic was backed up to little jockos ( not the onr off the freeway, the one way down the road) waiting to get past that light!! i took the backway ( frontage road that connects with 166) from my friends house the other day.
also, one that is getting bad is bradley rd and skyway.
we are getting more cars than the roads were built for, the people that planed these roads never thought this place would get this big, i guess.
OH, let me say, i wish people would learn how to drive through a round-a-bout the correct way, ITS NOT A SLALOM PEOPLE!! the right lane is ONLY FOR TURNING RIGHT!! NOT MERGE!! drivers in the left lane have the right of way and stay in the left lane until they want to turn, THEN they move to the right lane..
its not that hard people...its not a race, and the right lane is for turning right only!!
sorry, ive almost been creamed there ( home depot,best buy walmart) so many times, and its amazing how many people just look so confused when it comes to these things, how about this.. if your unsure, dont take that road...ok? see easy!!
haha...good topic!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tonia on February 9, 2010 at 5:56pm: In SlO it is at Broad and Tankfarm Rd. only about 2 cars can go through before the light changes; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JOHN LANDON on February 10, 2010 at 2:23am: well actually there is a way to make them change before you arrive at the intersection ...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Justin on February 10, 2010 at 8:01am: Yes John but it is unlawful to have such a device like the fire engines and ambulances. Did you know that most police cars do not have traffic light modulators?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pablo on February 10, 2010 at 12:28pm: I have very few lights on my way to work. What I do seem to encounter is on Los Osos Valley Road (LOVR) is the driver who is driving slower than everyone else in the front of a line of people who would enjoy driving faster. The wierdest part is how once a passing lane opens up they are looking to drive as fast or faster than those who have been waiting for a chance to get around said slower driver. But wait, there is more fun. Once they are past the passing lanes they come to the realization that they weren't in a hurry after all and slow back down to thier original slower pace. That and the fact that South Bay Blvd is a 55 zone and that the radar sign telling the guy ahead of me he is traveling at 42 MPH doesn't encourage them to speed up, only enforce the fact there is no justice on the road.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dorothy on February 10, 2010 at 10:42pm: The traffic lights on Grand Ave in Grover Beach are geared to slow traffic through the downtown area! If you can make the first light and travel about 28mph you can usually get through all green lights. I prefer to take side streets and avoid it completely!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by JOHN LANDON on February 10, 2010 at 11:27pm: If the light was Red, how FAST would you have to drive your car toward the traffic light, so as the red light would appear to be green?

Given the wavelength of Red light is about, 700nm and for, green light, ⋋ is 500nm, and the speed of light 300,000km/s

oh, ⋋ means wavelength; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vanessa on March 9, 2010 at 8:16am: I've said this before, and I will say it again. There needs to be more green right arrows...there are quite a few in north county and hardly any in the south. Also more round a bouts and more yield signs would be nice.

If you go the speed limit (starting at red to green...with no cross traffic) you should be able to hit all green lights (I read it somewhere) The lights on west grand (grover beach) are ridiculous, they want you to slow down in the "down town" area so you can take in the shops...but really what the heck is there to "shop" at????; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dorothy on March 9, 2010 at 9:59am: In California it is legal to make a right turn on a red light (if traffic is clear). Left turn lights are very helpful to novice drivers. If you only have a green light and want to go left, pull into the intersection and wait for traffic to clear. If there is no break and the light turns red you have the right to complete your turn to clear the intesection for the green traffic. I once sat through three lights behind a young woman that didn't know the rules and wouldn't go forward of the crosswalk until traffic cleared, then she got frustrated and made a turn that was almost dissasterous. They now have green arrows at Halcyon and Fair Oaks.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vanessa on March 9, 2010 at 10:57am: As an excellent driver I know these rules already. The point of the green arrow, is to keep traffic moving. A lot of the times these are in place where there is no on coming traffic, but still a red. Such as when cross traffic to the right of you (considering you are making a right) is going straight or left. Instead of making you break and then going, it gives you a green and you can continue on your merry little way without stopping the traffic behind you. One would be very good at the Oak park and branch road intersection (near kmart) people that are making a right on to branch from oak park (towards kmart) wouldn't have to stop when people on branch are going straight to the free way or making a left on to oak park.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dorothy on March 9, 2010 at 7:49pm: It would take a designated right turn lane. If there is a car stopped for the red light ( in the lane you are in) waiting to go straight, I would advise that you take the time to stop! lol. Why are people (not you) so hesitant to apply the brakes?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Vanessa on March 10, 2010 at 8:11am: Breaking is fine, but if it's not necessary, why break?; ▶ Reply to This