Discussions

Hey Brandon,  
 
Why don't you know how to drive? It's completely infuriating. Ok, here's the deal..  
 
July 1st. We are jazzed up. Canada's 150 years old and we are ready for a party. Only. Something's wrong. There's so much...TRAFFIC!  
 
No problem the city says, we will just put up the flashing yellows and flashing reds. People take driver testing, so this will sort it all out.  
 
Only, it doesn't. It makes it worse. And I've pulled out all of my hair.  
 
FLASHING YELLOW MEANS PROCEED WITH CAUTION. It is NOT a 4 way stop.  
 
Good thing BPS was there to watch all of these people break THE LAW! C'mon officer, you were standing right there! You couldn't hear me yelling and screaming obsenities about this idiotic display? Well, yeah, my window was rolled up. But c:mon you were RIGHT THERE.  
 
Flashing yellow man. It isn't a red light. Don't stop. And if you do have to stop, have the decency to never start driving again.  
 
Thank you, and that's all.

Looks like you need some anger management sunshine....... people are not going to change because you want to party. Get over your self!!!!!!!!

Why don't you have a discussion with the  
City's "Director of Transportation" Carla  
Richardson and see what her response  
will be.

Traffic circles are too complex for some people. So are 4 way stop signs. Flashing yellow lights would be too complex too.  
 
A lot of drivers in Brandon need to be refreshed on the rules of the road. Mandatory retesting every 5 or 10 years would certainly help.

A bit ragey still 3 days after the event.  
Yes, there is going to be heavier traffic on Canada Day.  
 
As far back as the first vehicle there has probably been rage and your version of idiots galore, but there are so many worse things in life.  
 
Maybe you should have opened the window and let the Officer know how you REALLY felt.  
 
I hope all the hair you pulled out grows back.  
 
Edited by Kellye, 2017-07-04 12:15:16

When driving, all other drivers are idiots, so drive with that fact in mind. So that means you drive with care, caution and courtesy, because you not only have to think for yourself but for others as well.  
Never scream, yell, and swear at others unless you are perfect, I know I'm not, but maybe there are perfect drivers out there, I guess I just haven't met them yet.

Flashing yellow means prepare to stop, no? Got tickets for going through them before...so never again.

Hi, so i will agree that drivers need to drive better. But on the down side to your complaint your only complaining about traffic and the lights when really it could be worse. That same night (Canada day) I got hit by a car on my bicycle while the same night my car was being broken into so your upset it took you a little longer to get to where you needed to be to party - next time have better time management. You knew it was going to be busy so that's your fault you didn't plan ahead and take into consideration that traffic is going to be busy. Me on the other had, this car that hit me didn't stop at a red light when I had the right away and my car getting broken into well they were trying to steel it cuz there was nothing in it and they attempted to get in from several locations so now I have a messed up bike and a messed up car! Thanks!

What's the problems here ? flashing Red Means Stop and if you have Flashing Yellow you keep going .... go drive down Portage Ave. a few times

TEN said "actually means proceed with caution. Some drivers are just more cautious than others. "

And coming to a complete stop and allowing cross-traffic across is not being cautious, it's not understanding.  
 
Not knowing how to operate on our roads is dangerous, and people that are too ignorant to manage this minute detail shouldn't be allowed to endanger other drivers.

If I'm entering an intersection in Brandon with a flashing yellow light the very first day it becomes one, when it has always been a regular traffic light before, you can damn well bet that I'm going to stop to make sure that the driver approaching the flashing red for the first time comes to a stop. I'm not going to trust anybody entering that intersection on it's first day.  
 

With a intersection with flashing yellow on one side and flashing red on the other, the flashing red is now a stop sign. The flashing yellow is basically a green light (nevermind use caution for just flashing yellow lights, always use caution when entering a intersection!) BTW flashing red lights at all four traffic lights is a 4 way stop (maybe part of the confusion?) Just had to say with a flashing yellow light intersection in a large city, if you stop ... your probably gonna get rear ended !!

Ok I didn't drive very far on Canada Day but I agree people in this city do not know how to treat flashing amber and red intersections here.  
 
Does not help that for years when an intersection has become one, the stupid radio stations advertise them to be treated as a 4-Way stop.  
 
Guess the rules of the road just don't apply here in Brandon.  
 
I also agree people should take a drive down Portage Ave in the evening.... one of the many busy streets in Winnipeg and the traffics flows so nicely on Flashing Amber/ Flashing Red intersections. None of this stop and go bs where traffic backs up forever.  
 
Now is the OP referring to traffic snarls after the fireworks? The reason I ask, they intentionally change the lights, block off certain roads, and direct traffic after the fireworks. I have seen them do it since at least 2013.

Triplethreat said "If I'm entering an intersection in Brandon with a flashing yellow light the very first day it becomes one, when it has always been a regular traffic light before, you can damn well bet that I'm going to stop to make sure that the driver approaching the flashing red for the first time comes to a stop. I'm not going to trust anybody entering that intersection on it's first day.     "

so just a question, how do you drive in a new place? i assume you watch the universal signs and markings as i hope you do every time you drive, whether or not you've been there before, or are you thinking others dont lol

yeah Brandon I agree flashing yellow means look and proceed when safe to do so you do not have to stop... this is the only city I have ever lived in that doesn't know how to use these traffic lights properly

Yeah, I haven't had the same concerns with the ones along Portage Avenue, but then they've been there for awhile and Winnipeg drivers are used to them. That is the problem here in Brandon. We haven't had these lights, so hardly anyone here is used to them. I'll bet when people approach the intersection for the first time they think there is something wrong with the lights because they're flashing.

Maybe the city should start switching them to flashing amber/ red lights after a certain time of the day so the city can get used to how they work. like say 8 or 9 pm and then switch them back in the mornings at a certain time.

how come I am out most days doing errands and never come home ranting and raving about drivers.  
 
I never have near misses, watch for pedestrians and people on bikes. I am usually from one end of the city to the other, I don't see this.  
 
Maybe I a not a perfect driver and don't notice all the bad ones, but sure don't rant and rave everytime I come home??

I'm sure mr. curmudgeon could pass the written and driving test with flying colours. Too bad they dont have some sort of test to weed out the bad attitude potential road rage nuts. He probably drives right on the edge most of the time. You wouldn't dare go 2 miles below the speed limit with him behind you. How about if you committed the crime of coming to a full stop at a stop sign. If he has such a fit behind the protection of his glass and steel car, it may not be long before he becomes braver and attacks someone, although it would have to be an older senior citizen so he could stand up to them.

~BooBoo~ said "Maybe the city should start switching them to flashing amber/ red lights after a certain time of the day so the city can get used to how they work. like say 8 or 9 pm and then switch them back in the mornings at a certain time. "

This is actually a great idea, I'd be completely fine with having everything east/west on Richmond and Victoria flash yellow after 9 pm or so, and everything north/south on 1st and 18th do the same.  
 
Let the intersections where these streets meet remain as they operate now.  
 
Great idea.

owyhee said "I'm sure mr. curmudgeon could pass the written and driving test with flying colours. Too bad they dont have some sort of test to weed out the bad attitude potential road rage nuts. He probably drives right on the edge most of the time. You wouldn't dare go 2 miles below the speed limit with him behind you. How about if you committed the crime of coming to a full stop at a stop sign. If he has such a fit behind the protection of his glass and steel car, it may not be long before he becomes braver and attacks someone, although it would have to be an older senior citizen so he could stand up to them. "

Ok, I'm not sure how you managed to take that ranting and screaming part seriously, but in any case, I was - clearly, I thought - mocking how drivers get super brave behind the wheel.  
 
And no, I drive the speed limit and accommodate inclement conditions.  
 
Let's use our brains. Though if you had a hard time figuring that out, I can see how a flashing yellow light might give you some difficulty.  
 
Beating up senior citizens, nice touch.

The_Curmudgeon said "    owyhee said "I'm sure mr. curmudgeon could pass the written and driving test with flying colours. Too bad they dont have some sort of test to weed out the bad attitude potential road rage nuts. He probably drives right on the edge most of the time. You wouldn't dare go 2 miles below the speed limit with him behind you. How about if you committed the crime of coming to a full stop at a stop sign. If he has such a fit behind the protection of his glass and steel car, it may not be long before he becomes braver and attacks someone, although it would have to be an older senior citizen so he could stand up to them. " Ok, I'm not sure how you managed to take that ranting and screaming part seriously, but in any case, I was - clearly, I thought - mocking how drivers get super brave behind the wheel.     And no, I drive the speed limit and accommodate inclement conditions.     Let's use our brains. Though if you had a hard time figuring that out, I can see how a flashing yellow light might give you some difficulty.     Beating up senior citizens, nice touch. "

Your OP has some of the qualities one would expect from someone a little bit unhinged. Someone taking what you wrote at face value is not so hard to grasp. It really wasn't so clear that your road rage wasn't real.

The_Curmudgeon said "    owyhee said "I'm sure mr. curmudgeon could pass the written and driving test with flying colours. Too bad they dont have some sort of test to weed out the bad attitude potential road rage nuts. He probably drives right on the edge most of the time. You wouldn't dare go 2 miles below the speed limit with him behind you. How about if you committed the crime of coming to a full stop at a stop sign. If he has such a fit behind the protection of his glass and steel car, it may not be long before he becomes braver and attacks someone, although it would have to be an older senior citizen so he could stand up to them. " Ok, I'm not sure how you managed to take that ranting and screaming part seriously, but in any case, I was - clearly, I thought - mocking how drivers get super brave behind the wheel.     And no, I drive the speed limit and accommodate inclement conditions.     Let's use our brains. Though if you had a hard time figuring that out, I can see how a flashing yellow light might give you some difficulty.     Beating up senior citizens, nice touch. "

great idea. The problem we have in this town it is too small to have many if any intersections flashing yellow and red. when we do they are strange as we dont see it often enough.  
 
it is also touph for the red light side traffic to know if it is red all directions, or a yellow red split. so they start to cross after stopping and the yellow side is still proceeding.  
 
richmond and vic would be the prime ones to switch at 9 pm or so but they are provincial roads and i believe they also control the lights. getting the province to change woudl be a stretch.  
 
put in more round abouts, that'll solve everything.