Handsome Jack wrote:

Roger Hayter posted
DerbyBorn wrote:

Some new traffic lights have been installed nearby. There is a Turn Right
Filter.
On approaching you see either the red / amber / green for ahead and right
if clear - or the Green Right Filter for Right.

Some have been assuming that the green signifies clear for ahead or right.

It occurred to me that we need an Amber Filter. Easily achieved with LEDS.
If Amber the turn if safe - otherwise wait.

What do others think?

When traffic light designers want people to know that they have priority
turning right as soon as the lights turn green they usually have a
permanent right filter arrow come on at the same time as the round main
green light.

But they often don't.

(And sometimes a left arrow as well if there is a left
turn lane.) People who assume that a green light otherwise unqualified
gives them priority turning right should not be driving a car on the
public road. No special signal will help people who are this ignorant.

Sometimes it does give them that priority, but there is no way for them
to know this unless they've been there before.

Unfortunately you are right. In which case, at a strange traffic light
system, one should pause and only proceed right if one is sure one can
see far enough down potentially colliding routes. If the locals get
annoyed that's just one of those things. This is bad design.

--

Roger Hayter