Discussions

Cars were stopped at the RED. (good) Cars were stopped at the yellow letting cars facing yellow the other way turn across the lane and treating it like a 4 way stop. I proceeded through the intersection with caution and a car who had a yellow (and thought it was there turn) almost turned right into me.  
 
I can't guess if you are going to follow the rules, treat it like a 4 way stop, treat it like a yield. Not a mind reader. It only takes 1 person to not follow protocol and it becomes dangerous for EVERYBODY.  
 
I think a public PSA or commercial would help people with this concept but then it would still only take 1 person to make there own rules to turn it dangerous for everybody again.  
 
Forcing people to retake drivers test is not a valid option because it would never happen.

The PSA already exists on 60 Second Driver.  
 
https://www.youtube.com/e:mbed/E7Djitbk6iU  
 
But it must be part of Radio Personality school to just tell everyone to treat these as a 4 way stop!  
 
Edited by Wiseguy850, 2019-11-25 19:44:20

Can't believe the lights are still out!  
Maybe next time lights are out they should have flashing red on both sides so then it will be like a 4 way stop?

I agree with the previous poster... It is so incredibly frustrating that people at this day and age don't know how to approach flashing yellow/red lights even after what seems like constant reminders BUT that being said, since no one seems to know how to handle it, they should just switch it to both flashing red before someone gets hurt. Someone driving thinking another car will stop, and doesn't could easily end in a fatality.... it is silly that us humans can't seem to grasp the concept, but is it worth the risk of lives? I still think that people should have to write a drivers test every set amount of years, there are too many dangerous drivers out there

My understanding is that because 18th Street is a provincial trunk highway (Highway 10), it always gets priority and will flash yellow. Any street intersecting it will be red. It doesn't appear to be negociable. Vic & 34th is the same way, and that's a pretty busy intersection.  
 
It drives me crazy that people don't follow the very basic rules concerning flashing traffic lights.

Lights at 18th and Queens are still out ...drove by just before 5am...

when lights are not working you are suppose to treat the intersection as if there are a 4 way stop in both directions .

You treat them as a four-way stop if they are not functioning *at all*. i.e. they are dead, unpowered and not doing anything.  
 
If they are flashing, they're still functioning in a sort of "safe mode". Follow the light. Stop on red, caution on yellow (but don't stop).

It keeps the traffic moving. In the morning and evening, there are very few vehicles (if any) stopped on Queens, waiting to get onto 18th.  
This is how they do it in cities. Flashing ambers on off hours.  
Also, the lights are not “out” at 18th & Queens! If the lights are out (no lights whatsoever), THEN it’s treated as a four way stop.

I noticed yesterday as I was going through this intersection that even local brandon police does not know how to proceed through flashing yellow lights! They stopped at the flashing yellow and let someone through on the flashing red. This is just shameful for the police to break simple traffic laws! For the record everyone, Winnipeg switches most major roads to flashing yellow and red, they ARE NOT A 4WAY. Flashing red means yield (stop and go when safe to proceed, this may mean waiting 10 minutes if the flashing yellow is super busy). Flashing yellow means its green and proceed through intersection without slowing down as long as it is safe to do so. If you stop at a flashing yellow that is no different then stopping at a green light, and I will honk profusely at you until you move.

As previously stated , if no lights at all or both flashing red , it's a 4 way. If , as it is , flashing yellow one street and flashing red other street , yellow is precedence proceed with caution , red is a must stop.

Already an accident there just now (9am), I can't for the life of me figure out why this is such an issue whenever it happens.

As I previously stated, the yellow/red has to do with where provincial/municipal infrastructure interacts. The highway (18th Street, parts of 1st Street, most of Victoria Ave) will ALWAYS have the yellow because they're provincial trunk highways, and all the intersecting streets will be red. The only exception would be 1st/18th & 18th/Vic, as they are both highways.  
 
Usually when it's municipal meets municipal, it will be all red as far as I can tell.

Seems to me that if you have the flashing yellow, proceed with extreme caution, slowly and prepared to stop. If you are in a car on the inside lane, next to truck you will not be able to see anything possibly moving or turning against the traffic flow.  
Lets all just use common sense and drive accordingly, that way we all get home alive at the end of the day. No need to rush anywhere and certainly not on a fast route to paradise.

In most cities, flashing yellow means to proceed through at normal speed. No need to slow down. Brandon isn’t unique and doesn’t need to be any different. It’s not like Winnipeg drivers are significantly more skilled than Brandon drivers or anything.

Flashing Yellow does NOT mean: "flashing yellow means to proceed through at normal speed. No need to slow down."  
 
From Manitoba Driver's Handbook https://apps.mpi.mb.ca/comms/drivershandbook/traffic-signs.html  
Flashing Amber — Slow down and be prepared to stop. You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.  
 
Edited by fargobob, 2019-11-26 11:45:41

Be prepared to stop, not stop. In case of pedestrians yes , they must stop at a flashing yellow. People are stopping not for pedestrians , but as if it was a stop sign.

Sorry but read the two sentences, they are distinct and separate, the second one applies to pedestrians, not the first.

Several intersections on Portage Avenue in Winnipeg flash amber every night. This shouldn’t be a big deal.

I read them. Meaning of said sentences , if you have a flashing you have to give right of way to pedestrians , if no Pedestrians then you can proceed with caution , not stop. Flashing red requires all vehicle stop

So, to summarize:  
 
1. If the traffic signal is not working i.e. there are no functioning lights whatsoever - you should treat it as a four way stop.  
 
2. If the traffic signal is functioning, but is flashing red or amber (fail-safe mode, or during periods of low traffic volumes), you should obey the red or amber light depending on what is applicable to the direction you are traveling in.  
 
->: If red, stop. Proceed only when safe to do so, similar to a stop sign where the cross traffic doesn't have any traffic control device.  
 
->: If amber, you may proceed without stopping. Whether or not you slow down will depend on your situation, although it's not strictly required as so long as due caution is used. In many circumstances, a reduction in speed may not be warranted.  
 
3. If you have a flashing amber, pedestrians shall have the right of way.  
 
Are there any other question? lol

The horn should never be used as a rebuke, only to warn other road users that you are there. This kind of excessive driver aggression is completely uncalled for and will likely get you arrested or cause an accident. They act like that in Alberta, very rude. Everyone needs to have a little patience with each other. No one is a perfect driver despite what they believe.

These lights work... Are turned to flashing in the evening till Morning... They have been flashing every night now for an bit ….

Leave the lights flashing for a couple of weeks than drivers could get used to what these lights mean and how to drive thru them

I think I'll head out and mow down the light standards so they'll send out traffic cops.  
 
It's true, flashing yellow doesn't mean just plow through, but they've got ROW over flashing reds.

IF Brandon drivers cannot obey the posted times are for school zones, I don't expect them to know what a flashing yellow light means.  
 
I come across a lot of people braking in a school zones at 7:15am every single day, and works the same way for people speeding right through it

And again some drivers stop and others don’t. Going to be an accident there cause no one knows the rules to driving

Almost an accident, as folks stopped for the yellow and a car entered the intersection on the red! They just about got t-boned!  
It’s too bad more folks don’t take a moment to peruse eBrandon and educate themselves on this topic.

Last place I will educate myself is on eBrandon. If it is motor vehicle related I will trust the drivers handbook or the highway traffic act before taking a learning from online forums.