Dealing With Traffic Lights

Traffic lights are a genius invention, but also a big pain for driving students. Here is an article I wrote about a huge factor of driving.

Pass Your Driving Test - Common Traffic Light Mistakes

Traffic lights are a great way to control traffic flow in an intersection. They give each car the exact way to behave - who should go and who should stop. In theory, they should be the easiest intersection type for driving students to go through, before, during, and after the test. However, many students can't comply with the simple rules of traffic lights and fail their test there.

One big mistake students make is stopping after the limit line. Very simple, yet many examinees fail to do the right thing. They stop way over the line, causing a risk and of course a lost test.

Another repeating mistakes is related to pedestrians. Often students don't notice them or not give them the right of way. This usually happens on right and left turns. When this happens, some students just go through the intersection without noticing there are pedestrians on the crosswalk. That is of course an automatic fail. Others notice the pedestrians on the last moment, make an emergency stop, and block the intersection. That is, of course, another major error and a failing result.

Some drivers don't know how to handle yellow lights. When it happens on the test, some just rush to the intersection, trying to beat the light, while others try to stop even where they have no chance to do it safely. This not only causes accidents, but it shows lack of practice. Drivers doing that on the test will be sent home to try again a few weeks later.

And last, but not least, is a major issue that annoys other drivers and causes many accidents. This happens when the driver does not drive according to the light. Some drivers, especially on right turns, stop unnecessarily even if they have a green light. This often causes confusion for other drivers and might cause an accident. Running a red light is another issue, in which students don't make a complete stop before turning, and simply "roll" into the intersection. This is an automatic failure and an extremely dangerous act.

Traffic lights are great, but as a driver you need to practice using them. Also, you need something to guide you while you practice, so you will not practice wrong maneuvers.

There are many guides that help you practice traffic lights. Find your suitable guide at the Pass Your Driving Test Guides section of my site.

Hope you liked it.
Nadav

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