Discussions

1. Flashing Yellow Red Lights  
Actual - Yellow light is caution. Proceed safely through intersection, yielding only to pedestrians. Red light is treated as a Stop Sign. Proceed when safe to do so,  
Brandon - Yellow light is maybe a stop, maybe floor it to get through, or drive through safely. Red light is stop and wait till I am done waiting and just go whether its safe or not.  
2. Traffic Circle  
Actual - yield to traffic already in the circle, enter when safe, signal at exit and turn out of circle.  
Brandon - stop or not. Always signal to enter circle, turn out with a signal at all.  
3. Bus Lane on 18th  
Actual - Through lane for Bus Traffic. Traffic may use as a right hand turning lane. When your turn is approaching . Signal and change lanes into bus lane when safe. Must exit at next right hand turn (street or Lane way)  
Brandon in the Summer - Drive whole way down 18th street in bus lane as I may at some point want to make a right hand turn.  
Brandon in the winter - 18th turns in to 2 lanes and people straddle the turning/bus lane so no idea what they are doing. Probably turn right unexpectedly with no turn signal at all.  
4. Zipper Merge  
Actual - Use lane that is ending as a proper driving lane and merge into straight through lane at the end where posted. Both lanes alternate proceeding. If done correctly traveling speed should only be slowed down slightly, but never should have to come to a complete stop.  
Brandon - stay in left lane even though you are sitting in front of the mall and wait while people that can follow proper rules of the road drive down the right lane. Once you finally get to Merge section don't allow right lane to move over as they went flying past everyone so rudely. Make sure you have blocked at least one road way. Before making the top of the bridge log in to eBrandon to complain about all the reckless drivers in Brandon.  
 
Actual - Drive following at least 95% of all the rules you learned in Drivers Ed/had to know to pass written and practical Driving Test. Probably do some brushing up over time to make sure you understand new road rules. Everyone makes driving infractions while driving.  
Brandon - Assume you are the best driver ever and everyone one else on the road is an idiot. Never accept any advise or knowledge from others that show you how to proceed safely on the road.

That would be both confusing and Dangerous.  
A flashing Red means the other side has a flashing yellow. It actually really means something.  
Flashing Red- means Stop precede when clear and safe, and the other direction has right of way.  
Flashing Yellow- You have right of way, precede with caution. The other direction should remain stopped.  
A flashing Red in all directions would cause a traffic backup because technically it should be assumed the other direction has right of way. No-one knowing the rules would precede, knowing the other direction has right of way. Anyway not before frustration hits.  
Lights should only be treated as a 4-way stop when enforced by authority (traffic guides present) or possibly in a blackout (not sure. right of way may still go to superior route.).

then put some hoods on the traffic lights and throw down some 4-way stop signs?  
 
The bigger question is.... how come the lights haven't been fixed yet? Isn't this 3 days and counting?

We could just learn how to drive properly!

I just go right through. If you hit me you will be the one liable for any and all damage to my car and my cameras will prove it

The lights could be fixed and allowed to work as traffic lights should at all times , red, Amber, green and do away with this silly flashing nonsense. Simple and everyone would understand it.

Instead of saying the guy honking at someone breaking the law should get a ticket, how about we just ticket the people all breaking the law, sounds like a novel idea to me

I guess in a perfect world where nothing ever broke or required time to repair, where fairies grant wishes, and rainbows shoot out of my behind.  
 
Until then we need to understand the rules of the road and adhere to them or get out of the way cause those of us who know how to drive are coming through!

Excactly that aggressive behaviour that causes most accidents. Drivers should be aware of road users around them and drive defensively not aggressively

It's not. If I stop at a yellow the guy b hind me may slide into me as he doesn't expect me to stop. Not paying attention or following the rules of the road causes accidents.

Behind should already be prepared to stop within a safe distance in case another driver makes a mistake, it’s called defensive driving. You always have to be ready for another road users mistake or poor judgement.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2019-11-27 18:07:37

I get what ur saying here. If you drive in Brandon at all you need to be a good defensive driver due to all the folks who don't follow any rules at all. Suggesting changing the rules to accomodate Brandon's lack of knowledge is absolutely ridiculous.  
 
Edited by Annabelle123, 2019-11-27 18:27:17

I had this discussion on a Portage Facebook group too so it’s definitely not just Brandon people that don’t seem to know or remember the rules of flashing amber/red ...which is maybe even more frustrating I think because where and when did people decide to just treat it like a 4 way stop instead of following the rules of the road? It makes me shake my head when I hear on the radio that they’re spreading false info.  
 
It actually gives me anxiety now when I come upon this because you have to make a split decision between following the rules of the road or following the mentality of vehicles around you...and the wrong decision can cause an accident!  
 
However, getting us “country folk” to agree on how to handle flashing lights and where the merge areas are, doesn’t look too promising haha.  
 
I wonder how some of these people drive in cities?? Out of province?? Across country?? Crossing the boarder?? If only there was a book where all the rules of the road were written down and could be shared with each other....

This.  
 
I never really understood these "bad driver" threads until recently. I now have to drive 3 round trips across town most weekdays. It's unreal how many truly bad driving decisions I see daily.  
 
I'm not a saint, and I will fully admit I occasionally make [minor] errors, but I try to know the [i]actual[/i] rules and follow them. There's been a few times where I've come home only to look up the rules, thinking surely I was the crazy one, but nope...!  
 
Oh, and anyone was parked on the 300 block of 3rd this morning and got your mirror clipped, I saw what happened but couldn't get the plate number. He contacted probably half a dozen cars with his mirror, not sure if it was enough to damage them. In retrospect, I probably should have stopped and left my info for the affected cars so they had a witness if they needed it. Sorry, hindsight is 20/20.

Did not suggest that rules should be changed. I suggested that the traffic lights should be fixed and working properly ( our whole road network is in a terrible state of disrepair) and that all road users should be more patient with each other taking more care as we use the roads.

People are so stupid it's very easy yellow means yield and red means stop just like a normal traffic light. Why would they make 18th street the busiest street in brandon stop like come on guys it's very basic common sense. You are to yield and proceed with caution at a yellow if they wanted it to be a 4 way stop then they would all flash red. This absaloutly drives me nuts to the point I want to either get out and direct traffic or make some big signs in huge bright letters explaining how it works lmao, in all honesty cops need to sit there and show people how to drive I guess.

They are working again this morning!!I agree with you 100% it is not hard and the people that are stopping at a yellow flashing light is going to cause an accident. I use this intersection three times a day and when those lights are flashing I avoid it because it drives me crazy when people can not follow the road rules. The city should maybe put sign out saying slow down but do not STOP for the north and south bound traffic. Heck pay me and I will stand out there all day telling people to move their ass**

Just because the lights are flashing red or yellow does not mean they are broken. City of Winnipeg does this to 90% of the major intersections are night time, the lights are not broken, its just different the typical green, yellow, red timing cycle. I hope Manitoba Infrastructure leaves this intersection flashing for the rest of the winter, maybe by spring time half of Brandon may know how to drive properly through flashing intersections. BTW I will still honk prefusely at people at the flashing yellow yielding to the flashing red, and no I wont get a ticket for doing so. Technically if a person at a flashing yellow lets a person go on a flashing red they are breaking traffic laws and they should be given a warning by the local police. Maybe the city of brandon can have a few police cadets spend a few days at this intersection trying to inform people on who has the right of way and who should be proceeding and who should not be. This would not only inform the public on how to drive but also teach that police officer that I witnessed that had stopped at a flashing yellow and let flashing red proceed.  
 
Also could the radio stations maybe put a public announcment out there that they had been informing the public incorrectly the last year or more on how to proceed through these intersections. I have definitely heard them give false information multiple times on this topic, ITS NOT A 4WAY!!!!

I gather that the lights have been malfunctioning on and off this week  
 
The flashing amber is a “proceed with caution”, flashing red is effectively a stop sign (stop until clear to proceed).  
 
Manitoba Infrastructure has been sending out crews to fix but the lights have kept reverting to the flashing red/amber. I haven’t been through today but as of late Wednesday afternoon they were back on as per normal.  
 
If noticing them out again it’s asked that one call traffic engineering with the province at 204-945-3781 and identify the problem intersection as “PTH 10 and Queens Ave” in Brandon.

I always assumed Brandon never did that because the main streets are busy no matter what time it is. When did this start?

You honk your horn at me I will report your licence plate to RCMP.  
Class 1 advanced level driver. I will drive defensively and within the law.

Go for it, see how much I care. Learn to drive

Well if you are following the rules there is no reason to honk at you then is there? I went through yesterday and layed on the horn for a good 20 seconds for folks stopped letting people drive illegally and I will do it again and again and again. Go ahead and report me. First of all RCMP are not the ones to call for this issue anyways it is BPS. What per say will they charge me with? Following and abiding by the rules and alerting them and the people making the illegal turns to the danger of what they are doing? The cops should be out there ticketing those making illegal traffic maneuvers anyhow.

My thoughts too.

You honk your horns at maybe an elderly, novice or nervous driver surprising or scaring them . They may panic and makes a major error or move into the path of oncoming traffic. Good job YOU just caused an accident and possibly causing injuries or worse. It’s your conscience. Be more patient with other people. The roads are dangerous enough.

The roads are less dangerous when people follow the rules properly. A horn is a good way to get an uneducated driver to think “hey, maybe I’m doing something wrong here” and then get a better understanding of the rules.

That’s your problem. I don’t care

Where exactly do you get a " Class 1 advanced level driver lic"? Heard of class 1 full with air or s endorsement. Never heard of an advanced level ..... Or you believe you are an advanced level over the rest ?

Class 1 with air in Canada. Advanced driver in the UK and full motorcycle licence for 25years. And no I do not claim to be better than anyone else but I do think that drivers should exercise patience and care and consideration to other road users.  
 
Edited by Farmergeorge, 2019-11-28 14:13:50

I agree It is a privilege to hold a drivers licence. It is however not a licence to abuse other road users, or anyone for that matter. No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes