Right is right and sod the left

brengun · Post by **brengun** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:49 am

When driving here there a particular traffic rule, not used elsewhere(?), its at crossroads and T-junctions , Always give priority to cars coming fromYOUR right, forget(almost) those coming from the left... this applies to all junctions unless there,s a triangle, but generally, right is right,,,,

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AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:08 am

But there is also a sign that cancels that rule, and another sign that cancels the cancellation.

If you see a yellow diamond on a white diamond background, all traffic from the right will have a yield sign and you don't need to pay special attention. (You still have to watch for people making mistakes.)

When you see the same yellow diamond looking like it got run over by a truck or swiped by bear claws, the special status is canceled and you revert to yielding to traffic from the right.

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:14 am

brengun wrote:When driving here there a particular traffic rule, not used elsewhere(?), its at crossroads and T-junctions , Always give priority to cars coming fromYOUR right, forget(almost) those coming from the left... this applies to all junctions unless there,s a triangle, but generally, right is right,,,,

Apparently the rule of giving priority to a vehicle on the right goes way back into the maritime history of ships and shipping. For instance, when two ships approach each other they should, by international maritime agreement, keep each other to their respective right hand side.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:17 am

Here's a page with the signs I was talking about plus others related to right-of-way.

Traffic signs regarding right-of-way

I must have remembered the bear claws wrong. It seems to be a solid black cancellation bar.

Signs 3 (the blue one) and 4 apply to narrow places like a one-lane bridge.

If you see the blue sign, you have the right-of-way over oncoming traffic.
If you see the round sign after it, oncoming traffic has the right-of-way over you.

brengun · Post by **brengun** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:37 am

HI, my prob. is that if i,m so busy working out the signs I can "twat" someone one the zebras that punctuate every such junction. , so I revert to my" right is right maxim " for now.. I think its something one must have to imbibe over time, as I see locals swinging into such junctions without a care.

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 3:12 am

brengun wrote:HI, my prob. is that if i,m so busy working out the signs I can "twat" someone one the zebras that punctuate every such junction. , so I revert to my" right is right maxim " for now.. I think its something one must have to imbibe over time, as I see locals swinging into such junctions without a care.

Sometimes a driver could have absolute confidence in road signs, but perhaps such road signs could only be for fools. For instance, in Germany certain roads were marked with a small yellow sign, to say that the road was a "priority" road and that all other traffic must yield the right of way to any vehicle on that road. However, accidents somehow did happen there, with or without priority and right of way. Then again, a big animal could cross that same priority road, and then what? So, no matter what the legal understanding of traffic signs and signals could be, just keep in mind the laws of physics, and always be prepared for the worst to happen.

Remember, traffic signs do not stop vehicles, but brakes do!

Bavarian · Post by **Bavarian** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:05 am

I thought it was the tires that stopped the car, not the brakes.

DMC · Post by **DMC** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:11 am

LOL! Good one.

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 4:31 am

Bavarian wrote:I thought it was the tires that stopped the car, not the brakes.

Well, tires could support a car, on which a car could roll, or on which a car could accelerate, positively or negatively, yet it is the brakes which could stop a car, by a negative acceleration.

Mölkky-Fan · Post by **Mölkky-Fan** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:42 am

This give way to the right rule is number 1 on my list of things that pi$$ me off in Finland, but it is also in other countries. (number 2 is the saturdays counted as holiday allowances) The Netherlands at least has similar, but it has been being phased out over the years by use of traffic lights and roundabouts and re-classifying junctions.
The idea of crossing junctions craning your neck to the right to try and spot a triangle that is often hidden behind trees etc while driving stright on over a pedestrian crossing is quite simply madness. We have some little roads near my house leading off a large road, some have triangles, others not, and some of the house owners on the un-triangled roads seem to take delight in whizzing out of their roads just to prove a point...

Tiwaz · Post by **Tiwaz** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:07 am

tuulen wrote:
Bavarian wrote:I thought it was the tires that stopped the car, not the brakes.
Well, tires could support a car, on which a car could roll, or on which a car could accelerate, positively or negatively, yet it is the brakes which could stop a car, by a negative acceleration.

Except you forget where the actual friction is....

How much brakes brake if tires do not grip the surface, say theoretical zero friction?

(hint, answer in this theoretical situation is that they will slow according to air resistance)

Now, if we take theoretical situation where brakes are absent but tires have friction, we have situation where car is slowed based on air resistance and rolling friction of tires. Which of course slows car down far faster than mere air resistance.

It is simple, basic physics which might confound some members of the board.

brengun · Post by **brengun** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:17 am

actually you,re both correct, as the energy (kinetic) is converted to heat energy at both tire /road point,,and in the brake drum at the point of friction between drum and brake pad.. I shall forward this post to my son,s physics teacher.its just perfect..... teriffic hint,Tiwaz.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:19 am

Well that is why its called the "right of way" innit?

tuulen · Post by **tuulen** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:45 am

Tiwaz wrote:
tuulen wrote:
Bavarian wrote:I thought it was the tires that stopped the car, not the brakes.
Well, tires could support a car, on which a car could roll, or on which a car could accelerate, positively or negatively, yet it is the brakes which could stop a car, by a negative acceleration.

Except you forget where the actual friction is....

How much brakes brake if tires do not grip the surface, say theoretical zero friction?

(hint, answer in this theoretical situation is that they will slow according to air resistance)

Now, if we take theoretical situation where brakes are absent but tires have friction, we have situation where car is slowed based on air resistance and rolling friction of tires. Which of course slows car down far faster than mere air resistance.

It is simple, basic physics which might confound some members of the board.

I have forgotten what?

For instance, a tire necessarily has friction against a road, or there could be no acceleration, not one way or the other, where speeding up is known as acceleration, and slowing down is known as deceleration, or negative acceleration, and without acceleration there need be no friction, provided that a tire is not turning a corner. And, engine horsepower could overcome both air resistance and rolling friction.

Yet, it is the brakes which provide the primary friction required to slow a car down.

simon · Post by **simon** » Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:45 am

Trasffic lights are THE most annoying thing here. Far too many of them at insignificant junctions and then when there are a many sets together at larger junctions they are not in time meaning that only a small amount of traffic can proceed from the second set cause the first set is holding up the previous traffic. The lights at herttoniemi are a classic example, it only takes a few busses to come at the same time and no one moves!!!!!

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