EDIT it seems to be a misunderstanding based on the misinterpretation of original statement. It was edited since then to clarify, rendering the original discussion obsolete.
Cars should NOT stay on the crosswalk when the red light is on. You should only drive through the crosswalk if the light is green and there is space behind the crosswalk enough to fit your car. If you stay there, blocking the crosswalk - you are in the wrong.
Pedestrians, however, can enter the crosswalk on green and continue crossing the road even if the traffic light turns red. It’s still a good tone, however, to plan ahead and not make drivers wait.
Original comment preserved:
A Wikipedia piece on that very issue to hopefully settle us:
Red light prohibits entering the junction, not staying there. There are some rare regional deviations, such as in New York City, but generally staying after red is not a violation - at least as long as the junction is not specially marked by yellow grid.
Red light prohibits entering the junction, not staying there.
While true, That kind of talk leads to gridlock as more people enter the intersection expecting to go after the light is red. It also leads to more “stretching the yellow” well into red lights.
People don’t seem to get the distinction that it’s to allow getting unstuck. It’s not to encourage entering the intersection when you can’t go anywhere (welll … except for some poorly implemented intersections where that’s the only way to turn left)
EDIT it seems to be a misunderstanding based on the misinterpretation of original statement. It was edited since then to clarify, rendering the original discussion obsolete.
Cars should NOT stay on the crosswalk when the red light is on. You should only drive through the crosswalk if the light is green and there is space behind the crosswalk enough to fit your car. If you stay there, blocking the crosswalk - you are in the wrong.
Pedestrians, however, can enter the crosswalk on green and continue crossing the road even if the traffic light turns red. It’s still a good tone, however, to plan ahead and not make drivers wait.
Original comment preserved:
A Wikipedia piece on that very issue to hopefully settle us:
Red light prohibits entering the junction, not staying there. There are some rare regional deviations, such as in New York City, but generally staying after red is not a violation - at least as long as the junction is not specially marked by yellow grid.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rules_for_traffic_lights
While true, That kind of talk leads to gridlock as more people enter the intersection expecting to go after the light is red. It also leads to more “stretching the yellow” well into red lights.
People don’t seem to get the distinction that it’s to allow getting unstuck. It’s not to encourage entering the intersection when you can’t go anywhere (welll … except for some poorly implemented intersections where that’s the only way to turn left)