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1st Street and Richmond lights

1st Street and Richmond lights

Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

1st Street and Richmond lights
11/30/2015 at 5:48 PM

Just curious if anyone in the know might know why the lights at 1st and Richmond keep changing over to a flashing yellow east and westbound, flashing red north and south bound every evening?? Been about the past 5 nights now. not sure if thats a city or highways issue….
Not to mention the fact that most drivers believe that makes it a 4 way stop which it does not. Amber, proceed with caution, Red means stop.
Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

....
11/30/2015 at 5:54 PM

Saw it also at the lights at the Shoppers Mall. Driving me nuts when everyone is doing a 4 way stop. Before an accident happens they may as well make it all red lights. I really do like the flashing lights as they are if traffic could know how to drive as such. Maybe they should put them as flashing later at night instead when there is less traffic.
Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

agree
11/30/2015 at 5:58 PM

I agree, no one seems to understand the amber/red flashing situation.

From the MPI website:

Flashing red and amber lights are often used at night when traffic volume is low, and a normal red/amber/green traffic light isn’t needed.
Typically flashing amber signals will be used on a major roadway, while flashing red is used on the adjacent side street.
If you come to a flashing red light, you must treat it like you would a stop sign. Come to a complete stop, and yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. Move through the intersection only when it is safe.
A flashing amber acts like a yield sign – drive with caution while approaching and crossing the intersection.
At a flashing amber light, you must still yield to pedestrians.
If both intersections have flashing red signals treat it as a four-way stop: come to a complete stop and yield to other vehicles who arrived before you.
sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

sammy
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8749

.
11/30/2015 at 6:26 PM

We live near here and it's driving me nuts because like you guys have said, people treat it like a 4 way stop. An accident is bound to happen!!

I do like the idea behind this and wish more intersections did this at night. Maybe than people would get used to it and the rules!!

However, I find it a weird intersection to do this at as I find both streets are busy and it actually needs a turning light IMO.
Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

Wheeler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 74

…..
11/30/2015 at 6:31 PM

I could maybe see starting it at a later time, like say around 9pm or 10pm at night but having it that way at between 5 and 6 pm is asking for a collision.
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
11/30/2015 at 7:00 PM

lots of bigger cities switch their lights like this late at night, like 130 or so in the morning, depending on where, I would think its great after 9 or 10 for 1st and Richmond, maybe thats what was meant to happen but the timer got messed up? someone could phone the city or hiways and ask if its their department or not, if it is great if not its just one more phone call lol
The_Young_Man
Joined: This month
Posts: 1626

The_Young_Man
Joined: This month
Posts: 1626

Lights
11/30/2015 at 7:34 PM

The lights at First street and Richmond avenue were flashing this morning around 10:30 when I went through there, so there must be something wrong with them.
Kimmie34
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 284

Kimmie34
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 284

lights
12/1/2015 at 7:36 AM

Are still out at 1st and Richmond.
ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

.
12/1/2015 at 8:08 AM

I like it in bigger cities when they do it. Brandon drivers will eventually learn what the flashing lights mean.
alyssad_8
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5

alyssad_8
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 5

A Flashing Amber Light is NOT a 4-Way Stop
12/1/2015 at 8:22 AM

As I'm sure a number of you have noticed, the lights on 1st and Richmond have lately been flashing amber lights (east/west bound) and flashing red lights (north/south bound) in the mornings.

As someone who drives through this intersection every morning on my way to work, it is extremely frustrating to be behind drivers who seem to think that this should be treated as a 4-way stop.

I don't know where people got that idea.

Please see the attached photo. This is a screenshot of page 28 of the driver's handbook, as found on http://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/CompleteHandbook.pdf

Note that you are supposed to proceed with caution through a flashing amber light. NOT stop.

Essentially, if you come up to a flashing red light, treat it as a stop sign. Come to a complete stop and proceed when safe.

If you come up to a flashing amber light, slow down and PREPARE to stop, but don't actually stop unless a pedestrian or vehicle is currently in the intersection.
stringbean
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 11

stringbean
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 11

yup
12/1/2015 at 8:45 AM

Its actually comical to see how many people treat this as a 4-way stop, especially when the drivers sitting at the flashing red rage at those proceeding through the flashing yellow.
ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

.
12/1/2015 at 9:06 AM

In Winnipeg and most other larger cities that I've been in, the flashing amber is treated like a green. You really don't need to slow down more than 1-2 km/h, because the cross traffic essentially has a stop sign.
traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

traveller
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9145

:)
12/1/2015 at 9:40 AM

these kinds of things is what makes brandon drivers bad, really a fairly simple concept that anyone with a license should be able to grasp yet many brandon drivers think that brandon cant handle ordinary rules of the road like they do in other cities, things like turning the lights to flashing at nights to priority traffic lanes (where the lane switches direction for rush hour, marked with overhead signs) to even how to turn and stay in the appropriate lane lol
Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

.....
12/1/2015 at 9:44 AM

I would like to know the reasoning why during peak times they flash the lights yet middle of the day they seemed to work I think. It took me an extra 5 min to get to work. Basically it doubled my time to get to work as I sat sitting in traffic vs a regular light. If there was something wrong with the lights then this is where a cadet would be perfect in directing traffic.
TheIllusion
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 334

TheIllusion
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 334

agreed
12/1/2015 at 9:50 AM

I'm so frustrated by this, I was going to start a thread about it this morning till I noticed this one. I drive down Richmond every morning at 5:30 and i like the idea of the flashing lights.

They really need to add it at Richmond and 9th too I believe it is, those lights change way too much.

I feel like the city needs to take out a full page ad in the paper just to get the message to the drivers, like everyone else said, very simple concept to understand, yet most of the drivers I see treat it as a 4 way stop.
ZachT
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 497

ZachT
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 497

If you get behind someone stopped
12/1/2015 at 10:24 AM

At a flashing amber light, and there are no pedestrians or other vehicles in the intersection, lay on your horn. Let them know that they are doing something wrong and impeding traffic.
Getty
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1536

Getty
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1536

safety
12/1/2015 at 1:18 PM

actually it should be flashing red on both sides, because knowing ppl, they will speed through a flashing amber light without slowing down.

Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

Fishin Guy

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 6897

...

12/1/2015 at 1:46 PM

ZachT said "At a flashing amber light, and there are no pedestrians or other vehicles in the intersection, lay on your horn. Let them know that they are doing something wrong and impeding traffic. "

Lol....As they are doing the same for me and even waving a one finger salute to go with the honk.

The_Young_Man
Joined: This month
Posts: 1626

The_Young_Man
Joined: This month
Posts: 1626

Working now
12/1/2015 at 2:30 PM

Went through there not too long ago and the lights were working again, but I guess we will find out to night if they are flashing.
ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

ultraguy
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1096

.
12/1/2015 at 3:03 PM

Getty said "actually it should be flashing red on both sides, because knowing ppl, they will speed through a flashing amber light without slowing down.

"

Not a big deal if people go through without slowing down. That's how most cities in Canada do it.

Edited by ultraguy, 2015-12-01 15:04:05
withallduerespect
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 148

withallduerespect
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 148

Turn Signals
12/1/2015 at 4:25 PM

I would be happy if people just used their turn signals! That's in the book too.
Knucklehead
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 284

Knucklehead
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 284

Glad I read this
12/1/2015 at 4:44 PM

I'm one of those that treat it like a four way, i didn't realize this was how you proceeded through this situation! I don't go to town very often so I'm not always sure what things like this mean!

Now I Know

Breaker12
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 263

Breaker12

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 263

its

12/1/2015 at 4:47 PM

ultraguy said "

Getty said "actually it should be flashing red on both sides, because knowing ppl, they will speed through a flashing amber light without slowing down.

"

Not a big deal if people go through without slowing down. That's how most cities in Canada do it.

Edited by ultraguy, 2015-12-01 15:04:05"

a big deal if someone will get t-boned since ppl don't know how to drive in this town, nor do they know the rules of the road. ie: this thread.

The quiet one
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 864

The quiet one
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 864

yup
12/1/2015 at 6:00 PM

It's a bad place, it needs dedicated turn lights.

I don't know who looks after the lights there but having flashing reds and ambers the is just plain stupidity.

Someone will be seriously hurt if not killed as many of the Richmond bound vehicles are doing 70-75 in a 60.

Sorry 1st + Richmond requires operational lights with a dedicated turn signal on all 4