N8N wrote:

> Timothy J. Lee wrote:
> > In article <PATDe.192893$nG6.404@attbi_s22>,
> > C. E. White > wrote:
> > >Things would work better if people would show a little patience and just be
> > >ready to go after the light turns green, and not try to beat the red.
> >
> > An attentive driver waiting at a red light at a familiar intersection
> > will notice when the previous phase is going, and may be in a position
> > to notice whether that phase's light has turned yellow. In that case,
> > s/he can (a) check for likely red light runners, and (b) prepare to go
> > immediately on green if there are no red light runners or others who are
> > slow in clearing the intersection.
> >
>
> I bet if the red-yellow were implemented here, we'd see less red light
> running, reason being that people will get more ****ed off and honk
> more often at RLRs because they're already ready to go when the RLR
> flies in front of their nose...
>
> 'course a few of them might get creamed in the process, but such is
> life...

There is actually several seconds pause when all lights are red to allow the
junction to clear in the UK.

The red+amber is indeed intended to allow you to slip the car into gear again and
release the handbrake before setting off on green.

Graham