Is stopping at red lights now optional?

[JoM]

Frank, the gadgets may be 'smart' but the people relying on them certainly aren't - yet satnavs are now a part of the driving test!

[meriad]

This is a very interesting thread and I agree with what everyone has said - I think general traffic awareness definitely has deteriorated.

Jo, there is absolutely no excuse for that driver not to have stopped; and I'd be surprised if there isn't CCTV somewhere there. Difficult to remember at the time, and in the hope there isn't a next time, but... if there is try remember to make a note of colour, make and model of car, and if possible all or part of the registration and then report them to the police. They many not be able to enforce much, but they can and should send a letter to let the driver know he's come to their attention. Or as suggested, have your mobile to hand and start recording... even pointing the phone in their direction may make them take notice

Ossie, I also don't get the speed restrictions that are in place all the time when they really apply onto to certain times, like you say with the school - the A3 runs to the side / through Guildford and at a certain point it goes from being a 70mph to a 50mph... fine on busy weekdays but evenings / weekends when the road is super quiet; it's madness. And equally I don't get how some of the narrow country lanes where I live have a 60mph when you really can't do much more than 40 and stay safe.... yet people go as fast as they can and then end up crossing lanes and heading towards oncoming traffic.

As for indicators don't get me started - Di, they're an option extra on a car here as well and it seems quite a few people didn't add them to their car spec

[cromwell]

And equally I don't get how some of the narrow country lanes where I live have a 60mph when you really can't do much more than 40 and stay safe

This is a mystery to me as well Ria. Some roads I have been on in rural north Yorkshire have been about 9ft wide - certainly not wide enough for two cars to be safely abreast - but it's a 60mph limit, which is nuts.

[Workingman]

You know those rear sensors to help with parking, well I would like them to be introduced at the front.... to stop tailgaters!

An algorythm would work out the safe distance to the car in front given the speed and if the car behind got too close its driver would get a 500db blast from one of those warbling fire alarm type things.

Indicators.... if only somebody would invent them.

I thank you.