"Paul Hirose" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> On TV news footage from London today I noticed something unusual about the
> traffic lights. A couple times I saw the lights change from red and yellow
> (both illuminated) to green. I have never seen such a thing here in the
> States. What does simultaneous red and yellow mean in Britain?

When I was very young (cica 1959) the traffic lights in my home town worked
like that. The yellow light came on on both the green and red sides of the
light at the same time. Back then it did not casue any problems. However,
given the way people drive today, I think giving them to much warning of an
impending green would increase the frequency of accidents. Between the
people trying to beat the red, and the people trying to burn out as soon as
the light turns green, I am guessing there would be more collisions. As it
is, most of the lights I encounter have a pause between the light turning
red on one side and the light turning green in the cross direction. I assume
this to allow for people trying to beat the red to clear the intersection.
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.

Ed

Ed