When I go to work I need to make a left turn at a traffic light that has a left turn light. There is almost no oncoming traffic but traffic going my direction is very heavy – but the light will not give me green until the cross street gets a green, which can be several minutes.
Anyway, what I do is, if there is no other car stopped there, I simply make a turn without even slowing down (assuming there are no oncoming cars and nobody in the crosswalk”. Well, the other day, a car ahead of me pulled into the lane and I thought, “nuts, I’m gonna have to wait for the light”. I was shocked when he did exactly what I do. And I thought I was such a rebel…
I don’t stop at such lights any more, unless there is a safety reason like oncoming traffic or a pedestrian. I even did it in front of a cop one day – with no ill effects whatsoever.
I do think we are seeing more traffic anarchy.
It would be great if insurance companies would offer discounts for seat-belt wearers. If you sign up for the discount and you get in an accident when you aren't wearing a seatbelt, you get nothing. It would be like life-insurance discounts for non-smokers...
In MA there is a secondary offense law (you can't be stopped for not wearing a seatbelt, but a fine can be added on for not wearing one if you are stopped for something else). That makes a lot of sense, eh?
NH does not have a seatbelt law for those over 12.
We are out here in Cali. People aren't waiting for the light to go green at the freeway onramps during "meter times" and more people are using the carpool lanes even though they are alone. The Great California Traffic Social Engineering Rebellion is underway. :o)