That had to hurt.... 3993Dave I believe this is real. About the rag doll-looking body, this is the way real people look in situations...
Where I live, I'd take a SWAG that the average number of cars through the red arrow at a busy intersection is about 2.5, and the highest I've ever witnessed was 7 (counting the last one's trailer and boat as one additional vehicle).
Not finishing your maneuver on the yellow light after entering the intersection. Not marginal calls about entering the intersection on a "pink" light. We're talking about blatantly punching the red light -- sometimes solo well after it has turned red and opposing or cross traffic is entering the intersection; sometimes as part of a solid stream of people who, perhaps, had played hooky from kindergarten the day they went over taking turns.
For so many cars to be caught up in the Tucson accident, one hypothesis would be that drivers two or three down (or even further, depending on whether there were one or two left-turn lanes) were responding to the yellow arrow not by preparing to stop but by gunning it to run the light. Which, if that's what they did, is doubtless a habit that was bound to bite them sooner or later.
For what it's worth, page 39 of the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division Customer Service Guide and Driver License Manual has this admirably clear statement: "A yellow arrow warns that the light is about to change to red. If you have not entered the intersection, you must stop and wait for a green arrow."
Sad but true commentary on modern life: when the light turns yellow I add a glance at my mirrors to this judgement call just out of a sense of self-preservation.
Actually even in a place where people aren't in the habit of bullying their way through after the light turns red, this falls under situational awareness. If somebody behind you is obviously not going to be able to stop until his radiator is in your back seat, you might -- might -- be able to think of something better to do than just sit there, depending on other traffic and pedestrians and layout. But the default thing should be to stop and wait your turn if you aren't going to make the light. It's manners and safety both. For the second car back, the safe and polite and NON BUTT STUPID thing to do is buttume that the car ahead will stop. The third through nth cars back can do the math.
--Joe
