cpx

I've seen this in many countries. Even in US I've seen this on
single lane highways.

Same with the flashers. I've seen this being used in several countries as well.

SchmeckFlyer

In addition to it being next to impossible to drive up steep cubs (the curbs and sidewalks being pretty high in LA) without the car making painful (and embarressing) noises in the process, while the cheap Honda Accord with 3" rims behind is waiting impatiently and trying to speed up.

Reminds me of a Top Gear episode when they made a huge spectacle of themselves when driving very exotic and expensive cars in Paris, and attempting to exit a cramped parking garage (barely fitting widthwise up the ramp) and then having enormous difficulty driving onto the street without damaging the cars themselves. A crowd of curious Parisians formed to watch it all...

trvadct

Many years ago, I witnessed something similar in Brazil. When driving at night, if you came up on a slow-moving freight truck going uphill (or approaching a curve) they invariably would shut off their headlights, not just flash them. They would leave them off until you passed them.

I was told that it was done so the overtaking vehicle could tell if there was another vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. My thought was, what if the same thing is happening on both sides of the hill/curve?

WHBM

Yellow aspects of traffic signals are indeed known officially as "amber" in the UK.

I believe the starting sequence of UK signals, Red - Red and Amber - Green is unique to the UK, I have not seen it elsewhere in the world.

The turns described above as jug handle or hook turn are known officially in Britain as "G turns". Obviously as they are the other way round to the US that makes more sense. Some are quite substantial being arranged round the block of nearby side streets, often accompanied by a large diagram on a sign when approaching them.

Someone once asked me in my traffic engineering past why the coloured lenses of the green aspect of traffic signals are actually made of blue glass. Reason is the light bulb behind does not shine pure white but has a yellowish tinge, the glass lenses are therefore made not as the true colour required but to give that effect when lit by such a light.

To me the oddest foreign driving custom is the extent to which bribing of traffic police when they stop you is universal, common, rare, or absolutely a no-no. Fortunately in the UK we are in the last category.

rhwbullhead

Sounds like Manhattan to me. I kept giggling when I was there last week b/c at every light, someone 4-5 cars back would beep when the light turned green, even if everyone had started moving.

Speaking of NYC, I didn't know right turns on red were illegal (unless permitted by sign). Fortunately, my cousin explained that before I went out driving by myself. I have to say that I felt weird sitting at intersections and not turning on red.

BamaVol

Just pretend you're 80 years old.

woodg

I'm from Australia and when I travel to the USA all of the drivers seem intent on driving straight t me. I've taken to driving a Hummer just to make my way around town.

aisleorwindow

In Israel the light changes to amber before it changes to green as well.

Bigez747

In some places in Russia it does the same thing. First time I saw it I thought that the light was broken, but my driver said it is a warning that the light is about to change. And they do that because many Russian drivers put the car into neutral at red lights.

WHBM

And in many other countries of the world. In the UK, when taking your driving examination, if you don't go into neutral and apply your handbrake while waiting at the signals you will be failed.

IceTrojan

You mean... no one else creeps? And I shouldn't have honked at all those people in the rest of the country?

And yes, I hate it when anyone doesn't go into the intersection, especially when I'm behind them.

I saw it around Lake Geneva as well. Of course, coming from LA I took it as an opportunity to accelerate a split second earlier.

winkydink

My experience with China is that the lines and lights on the roads are merely "suggestions"

Loren Pechtel

They seem to actually mean something in heavy traffic. In light traffic they don't mean much.

They also don't mean anything to right turners most of the time. I was nearly hit by a bus last trip. I was crossing the street, the light was in my favor. The offending bus was in the *LEFT* turn lane and people normally don't make lefts on red there. This guy was making a *RIGHT* turn, though!

Teacher49

The amber before red is a signal for drivers in Switzerland to re-start their engine. I believe it is the law that motors must be turned off if you are not in the first few cars at the head of the line while waiting at a red light.

Air quality issue.

cpx

and they highly discourage you from letting the vehicle engine idle for
a long time and I've seen general public support this very well.