This would work in a perfect world where people arent idiots and selfish. As soon as people dont have an obligation they take the easy and lazy way out. (not paying attention, not looking out for others, etc.) You should drive in a country where road rules arent as important or followed. I am currently in istanbul on holiday and the driving here is soo chaotic because no one follows the rules. It causes huge congestion and a lot of accidents. I cant even imagine what it would be like to go to a country like India for example. The whole "no need for rules" would apply to everything in a world where humans arent self conceited. The thought of being able to get more for less corrupts us so quickly that it would never work.
13Haphazard Again on the flip side we now have a law saying you can't smoke in your car with a child... this is common sense to 99% of the population yet tax payers spent several million pounds pushing though this law to protect the kids of the terminally stupid people.
13Haphazard but the thing is, bikers in India are expected to ride a certain way (rash :p). So, other motorists are on the lookout for the random bike, popping out from here and there. Studies have shown that on the road, most people don't even notice bikes simply because they aren't expecting them to be there. So while people in cars need to be more alert in India, it's the other way around in places such as the UK and US etc.
+13Haphazard i dont care if your a light house, aircraft carrier, 18 wheeler truck , or an ambulance. i own the road. and i dont give a rats azz if your a fire engine. i wont move out of the way. unless you got something bigger than my glock!
***** I saw an animated film a few years still in black and white, the drama is about an extraterrestrial who arrives on Earth on 1950, to see how this goes, he go way and says on his planet: "-It Is the most beautiful planet I've ever seen in this galaxy... but there's a problem there... Humans... they are a big problem, they need about another half a million years to evolve consciousness, maybe more..." Big V Baron. Big V for Yall. You now about "Sync The Planet 2015"? Find the promo vid. Rest from current date 9 days to event.
***** in the philippines, many drivers dont have licenses, and last time I went there, I saw less accidents there (and road rage) than here in the US, and stuff is more hectic there. and theres also less traffic signs/lights and signals. so i guess youre right; if people thought for themselves, and decided whether its safe to do something or not, there *would* be less accidents
TremourSphere Not to mention the rise of the health and safety nation! It's bollocks! Sure there'll be regulations and H&S training on how to wipe your own arse soon!
Kind of agree but I think there's one place where health and safety does need to intervene and that's with CBT only riders! Yeah it's a great mode of transport and entry onto freedom but atleast make them do a theory test! Do any of you remember CBT...it was a joke! Imagine that was all the knowledge you had! That needs looking at
I 80% agree with this. On the subject on traffic lights. Going to Milton Keynes via jct 14 southbound M1. The slip way usually has 6 cars in both lanes waiting to get on to junction roundabout with traffic lights. Last week the traffic lights were not working, so all traffic from M1 northbound going to A508 and people leaving Milton Keynes caused this slip road to back up onto the M1. It took me 20mins to get to a point where I could begin to think about entering the roundabout over the M1 and another 4 mins to be able to go. Some places it's needed, others it's not.
where i live there are no traffic lights, the nearest ones are probably 3 or 4 sets in the next town over and everyone is very courteous at junctions etc
I agree with everything. Was out for the spin on Sunday, doing 45 in a 60 zone, taking it handy for a blind bend, next thing you know it stops being a tight corner and becomes a hairpin midway through. I ended up on the other side of the road thinking "where's the f*****g signpost for that?!" Nowhere to be seen. I'd rather they didn't have any warning signs up anywhere (mostly because they're pointless 90% of the time) but because like the red lights, we rely on them rather than just using our own instincts.
You're spot on with your thoughts on individual thinking, Baron. A typical case of 'use it or lose it'... Also the link to Martin Cassini is so good. Thanks!
That's actually an extraordinary thought! I live in a mountainous area and I see people who are braking before, during, and after the apex of a turn, not to mention going 4mph under the already ridiculously slow 40mph speed limit, and I think, "How did you get this far in life only to have amassed such a small amount of driving ability?" And now I know. They have been enabled by the wussy speed limit!
Hey Baron, When you were on south carriage drive in the park talking about the Town removing all the clutter so they could just get on with it. They actually did a smaller version as a test case in Kensington high street a few years ago. Pop along and have a proper look, you'll see that they've removed nearly all the street furniture and silly signs and the high street also looks a lot better as well. Also, when they removed all the unnecessary railings along the side of the road, people actually stopped and looked before crossing the road. Mind you that was a few years ago before every fucker went full iPhone Zombie mode. I'm pretty sure there were fewer accidents as a result of removing all that crap as well. As a side note, I always seem to see you passing my cab in south carriage drive and I can never catch you to say hi. :-)
Johnny ok i'll check it out. I agree with the disgusting amount of street furniture too... look at any old photographs of a town high street and they are beautifully calm and clear - compare that to a modern photo and its alarming, ugly chaos. Beep at me next time! ;)
I found your channel and really enjoyed it. Whenever have some free time I'll watch your videos. I liked the accent, very charming. The landscapes are beautiful. Thanks for posting.
I think another aspect is that a lot of people are working long hours, stressful jobs, stressful home-life, just busy busy busy. Then they get in their car where they are in control of the temperature, the music, tucked away in their own little cocoon; they just totally tune out the rest of the world. Haven't you ever had a long hard day, driven home, only to realize that you remember none of the trip; just on autopilot? It doesn't excuse anything, they're still driving multi-ton slabs of rolling death; but I can certainly empathize with how some people get lost in those minutes/hours commuting in the only space they have total control over. Except people on their phones/texting while driving. Fuck them.
I'm all about survival of the fittest! If you step on the street in front of a Mack truck, well then maybe it was meant to be. In the US we have crossing guards for kids before and after school. Not for adults. That's a bit absurd.
Just stumbled upon this video. I live in Peterborough and at a certain junction with 3 very long reds the lights failed one day and it actually improved the flow of traffic at the junction. Suffice to say it was fixed rather quickly.
Well, not bringing any _theories_ here... let me quote about someone caught red-handed: _Hundreds of sets of traffic lights at some of the capital's busiest junctions are being secretly altered to increase the time motorists have to wait, The Independent on Sunday can reveal._ _The changes affect as many as 300 traffic lights. After months of suspicion among motorists - questions have even been asked in the House of Lords - the London body in charge of traffic lights has now admitted many lights have had their red phase increased and the green phase reduced._ source: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/revealed-how-livingstone-has-brought-congestion-to-capital-179564.html And: www.standard.co.uk/news/secret-plan-to-rig-traffic-lights-6300374.html (that was quite a news back then)
I could not agree more regarding the nannying, and the majority of people do not think for themselves, even if they think they do. Very few ever actually ask 'why' they just float along, trying to stay in their little comfort bubble. The traffic light thing is also very true, around my area, Canterbury, when a set of lights on a big roundabout go down, the traffic flow improves greatly. If you have ever ridden in Thailand, you will know that at first sight, it looks a mess, total carnage, but after spending a couple of days in it, you realise that those people are far better drivers/riders than most in the west, as they are aware, they think for themselves. Sure, some come down the hard shoulder of the opposite carriageway, with hazards on, but it works, there is no aggression, and the only two accidents I saw were with western tourists.
I lost a friend last year on a bike and I've been skeptical about getting back on one, but seeing your 24hr trip has made me want to go balls deep back in to the motorcycling world, and stick my head in to some riding clunge (Y) please, please don't stop doing this, it's highly entertaining.
There were some lights out of action in Brighton a while ago. People said it was dangerous. Every time I went through it that night - faster, patience, safer, no-one honking aggressively.
dislike unsub from traffic lights. Roundabouts are fun, in fact I shall start calling them #kneedownabouts to increase their appeal. Maybe #driftabouts to pander to the filthy car culture ;) ;)
I miss the videos where you grumble and moan as you drive through the city. It’s what made me subscribe in the first place. Please bring them back. You make valid points and those of us living in the colonies get to see and learn about what’s going on in London. We love you from America!!
Just watched the video you linked. I was sceptical about what you were saying until I saw the evidence for it. It is very true that I absolutely trash it off the line at green lights simply because of the frustration of having to stop for no reason.
I literally screamed YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS when I saw there was a new BVG video!
In japan they have alot of people like that, ones to tell you where to park and to tell you if its safe to pull out from a drive way. Was handy and seem to make everything smooth and easy.
So true, large village up the Rd called Braunton. Really busy holiday area and the village ever holiday maker has to drive through to get to their "resort". Always clogged up everyday in summer with lines of traffic for miles effecting all the other towns! One day the lights at the cross road died and it was the most that traffic has flowed in 20 years!!! Lights everywhere here, before and after every roundabout (I shit you not) completely taking away the whole point of a roundabout in the first place!!!
It's interesting that you have ridden where you did while you were recording this. I noticed the large paved section of road where you mentioned that people were doing u-turns. The extention of the pattern onto the pedestrian area is directly related to what you are talking about. That type of design is supposed to 'blur' the line between the vehicle and the pedestrian area, as a result most motorists will slow down owing to the assumed increase in risk whilst driving through there. It is used often here in Australia.You'll probably find it came about via the theory of 'Risk Homeostasis'...... look it up, very interesting.
By far my favourite channel, Bloody brilliant as usual Baron! Side note* my mom is anti petrol and anything fast really, she wants us all to go back to horse and carriage... But she came and visited my wife and I recently, and we sat down every night and watched an episode of your trip to Spain. She loved it! ... She says your driving scares her hahaha, but your commentary was/is incredibly entertaining. P.s. ... Just got my first actual Jizz Machine! CBR600rr! ... My fifth bike... But first sport bike :D Guess I better buy a sticker now...
ChromeArty ah, thats nice that you watched the trip with them, seriously, its shit like that which makes me want to upload. Now go buy a fucking sticker ;)
***** Thanks Baron! I'll pass that along to Ma. Should put a big smile on her face :) Yeah... there is a lot of pricks out there that have no sense of humor... but keep posting for the rest of us! VlogHim!! Off to add to your Double Bloody Decker fund...
Double decker sales must have increased because of the Barron, I often purchase said chocolate nowadays, typically a bounty man. I say Barron should get some free double deckers. Lol
i go on these rants exactly like this all the time and the thing i always emphasize is people making their own decisions and thinking for themselves which is also what you said. i remember one specific time when i was with a buddy driving down a two lane road with a double yellow here in america (not sure if thats a worldwide line lol) and the car in front of me was pulling into a driveway and instead of doing what most people do and slam on my brakes i simply went around the guy with no danger to anyone because there was clearly no oncoming traffic and my friend goes "WHAT ARE YOU DOING" simply because i crossed the double yellow and i go on saying the same things you were saying about letting a bulb or a line on the road stop me from making certain choices and instead slam on my brakes wear out my brakes over time if i do that same thing another 500 times then go to the shop get em changed and it can go on and on. our brains are pretty similar haha i was just nodding and agreeing the whole video just like most of your videos lol
Baron, Great video as always mate...Slightly disappointed in the lack of knicker action but we can continue to blame the buses for they are an easy target for all our road troubles.
South Florida tried to eliminate a few traffic lights with roundabouts and now idiots stop at them and in them rather than yielding and driving through. Also rarely are blinkers ever used when they travel more than one exit. Fun stuff.
In the same video, it's mentioned how simple it is to drive well and safely, and how simple machines are taking away humanness. Perhaps the traffic lights and such are not taking away this ability to reason, but instead allowing more interesting thoughts to unfold while mundane driving tasks are handled as externally as can be? I think it's one thing to enjoy driving, but it's another to forget it's point A to point B for others. Hahahaha, I love how this ended.
People in the US only care about liability. They blindly do shit without thinking about common sense like trying to see if a car is coming. Survival instinct doesn't really exist. Self governance is a concept that works when people understand that their success depends on each other's success. The same goes for the rules enacted in current traffic systems today. If you tailgate, that causes issues, hog the passing lane, run a stop or more. It's all a question of a little patience benefiting everyone. That does work in a collective society like Japan for instance. Country like the US or UK on the other hand, people want to get ahead and its dog eat dog which leads to all the issues. Ride in India sometime. People do look and some driving a bigger vehicle don't care. Dog eat dog principle without any care for your fellow man. It's chaos for the most part.
There's a few intersections near where I live that would be an absolute mess without lights, one of them used to not have them, but people kept crashing and dying there, so they put one in place and it's not terrifying to turn there. So there's that.
It's great idea to make people think more about the traffic rules and avoid dangers themselves, but it wouldn't work, though. As you said, people wouldn't argue about whether they ran a red light or not, but on the other hand - there are people with no respect for traffic rules. Last month I was riding my motorbike in the city and a car didn't yield to me while approaching an intersection without traffic lights and I crashed into it. He claimed I'd been riding too fast. Police had to come and watch the CCTV record to prove my innocence. So yeah - people wouldn't argue about red lights, but they would argue about right-of-way, though.
I like the video. But what I like is to see the city of London and surrounding areas. Maybe I'll stay a while next year and it is nice to see a bit of the place. Thanks for posting.
The places where they have experimented with this type of thing are a town in Holland and then Ashford kent. It works ok, I don't know of any more or less accidents but it seems to calm people's driving down a bit. The funny thing is that just after you start suggesting it in the vid, you entered a part of London that has already had this treatment. The bit where all the cars are doing U turns.
Completely agree, its been bugging me for ages. People only want to get involved with something politically or morally if it requires little or no sacrifice or effort on there part, like with the random human interest stories that pop up all the time. They want the feeling of making a difference without any of the repercussions and that way they probably feel as-if there doing there part for the greater good. Being self righteous isn't a licence to do as you please without considering or caring for the effect of it.
What I love about crossings in London is the look left/right thing. I'm used to look the other way as I come from other country. It's great that Brits understand they are the deviants over here ;)
Speaking like a true individual Baron. People do need to learn to think for themselves. Instead of learning how to solve problems, people these days are obsessed with safety and looking for reasons to get offended at anything. Look at the people who are truly happy : the people that accomplish things for themselves, rather than the people that stand with their hands out expecting hand outs and safety.
I like the thought behind no traffic lights. I have experienced the reality of this in egypt fora year, believe me stick with some order. Oh, we could get rid of lights for right hand feeder lanes and just give way. Spain do it well with flashing amber to proceed with caution, perhaps we should do that.
Nice one Barron. Health and Safety in the UK is crazy at the mo. I know a workplace where you must hold the banister when walking up or downstairs or you get reported.
The worst example is when the junction designers put in a left filter and then slap lights on them so you can't even FILTER! In the US they allow right turns on red and it works really well, because u can use your brain instead of waiting for a light bulb.
I think the PSCO's are there for the vehicles benefit. As you said, when there are loads of people you can't drive through. Some people could easily cope without lights and road rules but many wouldn't and the result would be an even worse mess...
in my small town where i was born we had no traffic lights and i can remember only one stop sign one of the main roads went through the town so alot of trafic was going through yet in my 6 years i lived there i never seen an accident and only heard of 2 caused by drunk drivers.....
Somebody agreed and hence invented the 'smart traffic light' that react to sensors in the ground that notice whether there are vehicles or not and thus change according to traffic and expected number of cars crossing that light, on different times and situations. However no one will pay for an installation of these
You're a rebel if you blow through a red light, you're a murderer if you blow through a person blocking and directing pedestrians at the crosswalk at a red light. He's literally a human shield.
It's interesting what you say about green lights Baron....the law in Canada states you can only enter the intersection on green ONLY when it's clear. :)
The planet isn't our problem, government and it's hamstring effect on human agency is. If we were not micro managed to the nth degree, we'd behave more like adults and find solutions and correct local problems more efficiently.
I totally agree baron, I live in Milton Keynes and apart from a couple of traffic lights in the town centre its all roundabouts. there is never any real traffic, we have separate walk ways/red routs so its very rare people need to walk across the roads. if the rest of the country was like mk it would be awesome!
At least we could start with the right turn rule California has. Red light you can turn right. In UK it would have to be turn left but it really works and reduces congestion !
Prime example of why I enjoy watching your vids. Finally a man with enough balls and brains to tell it how it is. We as people are becoming such dumb pansy asses that we freak the fuck out if there isn't any order instead of thinking for yourself
OMG, I just found your channel and instantly subscribed!! Your are funny, you remind me of a Scottish Friend we we call Blue Machete. Love your discussions and sarcasm!
Here is a qoute taken from a BBC NEWS magazine article titled "The city that lets cyclists jump red lights" "the two ends of the Champs Elysees - the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde - have different systems for regulating traffic. At the Place de la Concorde there are traffic lights; at the Arc de Triomphe - with its 12 avenues entering the bewildering Etoile roundabout - there are none. Yet the accident rate at the Place de la Concorde is five times higher than at Etoile. "That is because at the Arc de Triomphe drivers are obliged to be careful. The traffic lights act as an automatic trigger, and that is dangerous." www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33773868
At least you get some roundabouts there... here in Canada most people are roundaboutophobic so the cities almost exclusively use traffic lights. Can't count the number of times I've been downtown in the middle of the night without another vehicle for MILES around waiting for the bloody light to change and let me through the empty intersection. That is if the sensor in the road even detects me and my motorbike are there.
Fair play, Baron. I think you are right in some respects- we have too much of a nanny culture going on. I have a personal beef with 'safety' cameras. However, if I may play the devils advocate, I would argue that we have to err on the side of safety to account for the minority. 99% of people would drive more safely if presented with a situation, such as fewer road instructions, where they had to think about and concentrate on their actions. Yet there would be a 1% of people who would flout everyone else's consideration for their own benefit which would undoubtedly lead to dangerous situations, frustrations and accidents. (Please don't counter with the argument of natural selection because if said driver wiped out a school bus full of children then no matter how one might rationalize it it would still suck). So to combat this, you might argue, we should implement tougher training and more thorough examinations whilst learning to drive which would, I admit, improve the overall experience of driving for everyone. But a more in-depth program would cost more when its already rather pricey to learn to drive thus affording only the more privileged the ability to drive and undoing a revelation that started way back with the Ford model-T (Stated to be a car for the people that all can afford). And with a wealthy to poor divide that is growing still at an exponential speed, while public service spending is rapidly decreasing, I can only come to one conclusion: If we were to remove the traffic lights from London the whole nation would erupt in bloodshed spawning another civil war killing hundreds of thousands. Of course the UN would get involved and the conflict would spread to Europe frightening the Americans who would then Nuke everyone just because they can. So, Baron, in the face of this argument, what say you? P.s. Have you tried the new Cloudy lemonade lucozade yet?- its magnificent.
The Mad Manic Courier McShouty haha. Well, i think it COULD be a misconception that chaos would occur... it seems a likely outcome but who knows - we may be surprised if we try. This is a pretty interesting watch: ruclips.net/video/ZeryaK22ntw/видео.html
***** Ok, I will give that video it's dues- it was pretty convincing and shows that a system such as that can work when used in the right environment. But I still cant escape from my initial argument that there will be the odd selfish person who would muck up the whole thing. Believe me, I have been stuck in some horrid jams in my time while in London and I have cursed the traffic light God's on many an occasion but in an environment such as london the lights are very much needed. The archaic road layout, born of a city that has grown organically since its creation many hundreds of years ago, is far too complex for it not to need an element of control. We should look at places like Milton Keynes as an example- designed and built as a modern city its roads allow the flow of traffic through the utilization of round-abouts and intersecting straight roads. So maybe the argument shouldn't be whether we should dispose of traffic lights but instead the argument for dismantling parts of london to move them to build (a) new city/s in the template of Milton Keynes. Also, as a biker, I feel a lot safer with traffic lights then I would without them. Aside from the maniacs, all it would take is for one driver to have a lapse in concentration to take me off and my job is dangerous enough as it is- hit twice in one year and had my ankle put back together only recently. I would love to see roads where everyone is empathetic and polite but I just don't see it happening in somewhere such as London because come rush hour everything is still going to back up causing frustrations leading to selfish behaviour. I tell ya what, Baron, if the whole of London is ever subject to a week long experiment (including at peak hours) of no lights and everything runs like clockwork then I will clean your bikes for free everyday for a month. However, if it were to fail then you must do the same for me- knowing that i'm a courier riding in all weathers I should also state that I have an off-roader that is heavily abused on weekends. (and providing that America hasn't nuked us all).
Alternatively, you could head south to Sierra Leone and try driving through Freetown where there are no lights and miles of cars just sitting because of the cluster fvck that is a city center without any traffic signals. Maybe I'm missing your point.
nice train of thought and thanks for shareing. Not fully sure on the city without any visual aids (tehehe). One thought that struck me is where is the consequenses for a redlight jumper? Fair enough people may be careful in the beginning but not when its the norm, atleast not all of them.
4 ways stops aren't much better here in the states, as people don't pay attention or know how to use them. It is fun to watch the tourists visiting Aspen try the roundabouts, they are really not used to those here
It's worse at night sat at a red light when you know it is safe to go. My idea would be for example at night at a crossroad have the busiest road permanent green lights and the smaller road remain amber. The solid amber meaning give way.
I think our traffic lights we have these days are just a level above a stop watch. We need systems that account for all vehicles, and make traffic flow as good as possible, you know, so save the environment and stuff... Or rather just to make driving easier and more comfortable.
You should go to Thailand, there are no rules, every driver pays attention to what is infront of them and and ten degrees to each side and in my 3 weeks there I didn't see a single close call. The road deaths are higher mainly because people don't wear helmets, but after you get used to the flow, it honestly is much nicer to ride in than uk cities.
After years of UK congestion killing my soul (even by bike), I have given up and moved 4 miles from work. I am hoping to sell the car, keep the bike, and take the bus to work in winter. I'm not even kidding.
I wanted to bring something feasible to this discussion but now all I'm thinking is knicker action :)
ivanandhismightysteed Yeah I completely forgot what he was on about now :D
Rainagul I think the video had something to do with knickers. Could be wrong :P
ye stupid bus!
Fanny
This would work in a perfect world where people arent idiots and selfish. As soon as people dont have an obligation they take the easy and lazy way out. (not paying attention, not looking out for others, etc.) You should drive in a country where road rules arent as important or followed. I am currently in istanbul on holiday and the driving here is soo chaotic because no one follows the rules. It causes huge congestion and a lot of accidents. I cant even imagine what it would be like to go to a country like India for example.
The whole "no need for rules" would apply to everything in a world where humans arent self conceited. The thought of being able to get more for less corrupts us so quickly that it would never work.
13Haphazard Again on the flip side we now have a law saying you can't smoke in your car with a child... this is common sense to 99% of the population yet tax payers spent several million pounds pushing though this law to protect the kids of the terminally stupid people.
Yea one who can drive without accident in India a can drive anywhere I know it lol
13Haphazard but the thing is, bikers in India are expected to ride a certain way (rash :p). So, other motorists are on the lookout for the random bike, popping out from here and there.
Studies have shown that on the road, most people don't even notice bikes simply because they aren't expecting them to be there.
So while people in cars need to be more alert in India, it's the other way around in places such as the UK and US etc.
+13Haphazard i dont care if your a light house, aircraft carrier, 18 wheeler truck , or an ambulance. i own the road. and i dont give a rats azz if your a fire engine. i wont move out of the way. unless you got something bigger than my glock!
More videos like this please young sir. Miss your random video conversations.
I think you are the reincarnated Charles Darwin. lol
***** Aye, because Darwin was famous for his outspoken and controversial opinions on road traffic planning...
Frillar Boom.
Frillar in Manilla
Frillar lmao chase got burned.
Never mind traffic light rant... Why wear a super short dress then walk about holding it down!! You wore it let it bellow!
LOL
Creep
+Lamb Chop Rides
Haha...Touché.
I just found this, sums it up pretty double bloody well: ruclips.net/video/ZeryaK22ntw/видео.html
***** traffic lights vs world poverty made me chuckle! its pretty much like late trains vs famine :-)
***** Most roundabouts don't have lights, then we decide when it's safe to move, why not just make all junctions roundabouts.
*****
I saw an animated film a few years still in black and white, the drama is about an extraterrestrial who arrives on Earth on 1950, to see how this goes, he go way and says on his planet:
"-It Is the most beautiful planet I've ever seen in this galaxy... but there's a problem there... Humans... they are a big problem, they need about another half a million years to evolve consciousness, maybe more..."
Big V Baron.
Big V for Yall.
You now about "Sync The Planet 2015"? Find the promo vid. Rest from current date 9 days to event.
***** in the philippines, many drivers dont have licenses, and last time I went there, I saw less accidents there (and road rage) than here in the US, and stuff is more hectic there. and theres also less traffic signs/lights and signals. so i guess youre right; if people thought for themselves, and decided whether its safe to do something or not, there *would* be less accidents
***** www.northsomersetmercury.co.uk/Peak-time-traffic-lights-return-Cabstand-resort/story-26266061-detail/story.html
Red light knicker action!!.....Oh yes slobber slobber Drooooooooooooool!!!
Neil Cole What a load of Bollocks darling, gordon bennet this smeg is codswallop, drives me up the apples and pears, not spiffing at all.
Well said me old china!!
Neil Cole I feel like a need a translator watching Von grumble videos sometimes....
Cheers to the traffic light movement!
Safety is just ridiculous in the UK now, i mean look at the motorbike tests its just excessive!
great vlog as always baronnnn!
TremourSphere Not to mention the rise of the health and safety nation! It's bollocks! Sure there'll be regulations and H&S training on how to wipe your own arse soon!
Jackorias cameron doing a mighty fucking fine job eh hahaha
Jackorias On the flip side the amount of kids that get to primary school that can't wipe there own arse is a tad embarrassing.
Kind of agree but I think there's one place where health and safety does need to intervene and that's with CBT only riders!
Yeah it's a great mode of transport and entry onto freedom but atleast make them do a theory test! Do any of you remember CBT...it was a joke! Imagine that was all the knowledge you had! That needs looking at
david Kerridge Your wish has come true sir
google.com
I 80% agree with this. On the subject on traffic lights.
Going to Milton Keynes via jct 14 southbound M1. The slip way usually has 6 cars in both lanes waiting to get on to junction roundabout with traffic lights.
Last week the traffic lights were not working, so all traffic from M1 northbound going to A508 and people leaving Milton Keynes caused this slip road to back up onto the M1. It took me 20mins to get to a point where I could begin to think about entering the roundabout over the M1 and another 4 mins to be able to go. Some places it's needed, others it's not.
where i live there are no traffic lights, the nearest ones are probably 3 or 4 sets in the next town over and everyone is very courteous at junctions etc
I agree with everything. Was out for the spin on Sunday, doing 45 in a 60 zone, taking it handy for a blind bend, next thing you know it stops being a tight corner and becomes a hairpin midway through. I ended up on the other side of the road thinking "where's the f*****g signpost for that?!" Nowhere to be seen. I'd rather they didn't have any warning signs up anywhere (mostly because they're pointless 90% of the time) but because like the red lights, we rely on them rather than just using our own instincts.
The smile on my face every time I see your video in my sub box.. But, sadly, no knicker action :(
I thought for sure we were getting an involuntary gash-flash there.
He giveth, he taketh away.
You're spot on with your thoughts on individual thinking, Baron. A typical case of 'use it or lose it'...
Also the link to Martin Cassini is so good. Thanks!
That's actually an extraordinary thought! I live in a mountainous area and I see people who are braking before, during, and after the apex of a turn, not to mention going 4mph under the already ridiculously slow 40mph speed limit, and I think, "How did you get this far in life only to have amassed such a small amount of driving ability?" And now I know. They have been enabled by the wussy speed limit!
Hey Baron, When you were on south carriage drive in the park talking about the Town removing all the clutter so they could just get on with it. They actually did a smaller version as a test case in Kensington high street a few years ago. Pop along and have a proper look, you'll see that they've removed nearly all the street furniture and silly signs and the high street also looks a lot better as well. Also, when they removed all the unnecessary railings along the side of the road, people actually stopped and looked before crossing the road. Mind you that was a few years ago before every fucker went full iPhone Zombie mode. I'm pretty sure there were fewer accidents as a result of removing all that crap as well.
As a side note, I always seem to see you passing my cab in south carriage drive and I can never catch you to say hi. :-)
Johnny ok i'll check it out. I agree with the disgusting amount of street furniture too... look at any old photographs of a town high street and they are beautifully calm and clear - compare that to a modern photo and its alarming, ugly chaos.
Beep at me next time! ;)
Love a good von grumble grumble.
I found your channel and really enjoyed it. Whenever have some free time I'll watch your videos.
I liked the accent, very charming. The landscapes are beautiful. Thanks for posting.
Always on time for a Baron Blog.
I think another aspect is that a lot of people are working long hours, stressful jobs, stressful home-life, just busy busy busy. Then they get in their car where they are in control of the temperature, the music, tucked away in their own little cocoon; they just totally tune out the rest of the world. Haven't you ever had a long hard day, driven home, only to realize that you remember none of the trip; just on autopilot?
It doesn't excuse anything, they're still driving multi-ton slabs of rolling death; but I can certainly empathize with how some people get lost in those minutes/hours commuting in the only space they have total control over.
Except people on their phones/texting while driving. Fuck them.
I missed your philosophical ramblings, good sir. Glad to see this stuff is back.
I'm all about survival of the fittest! If you step on the street in front of a Mack truck, well then maybe it was meant to be. In the US we have crossing guards for kids before and after school. Not for adults. That's a bit absurd.
I shared you disappointment in action at the ending
Bloody double decker!
Just stumbled upon this video.
I live in Peterborough and at a certain junction with 3 very long reds the lights failed one day and it actually improved the flow of traffic at the junction. Suffice to say it was fixed rather quickly.
Well, not bringing any _theories_ here... let me quote about someone caught red-handed:
_Hundreds of sets of traffic lights at some of the capital's busiest junctions are being secretly altered to increase the time motorists have to wait, The Independent on Sunday can reveal._
_The changes affect as many as 300 traffic lights. After months of suspicion among motorists - questions have even been asked in the House of Lords - the London body in charge of traffic lights has now admitted many lights have had their red phase increased and the green phase reduced._
source: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/revealed-how-livingstone-has-brought-congestion-to-capital-179564.html
And: www.standard.co.uk/news/secret-plan-to-rig-traffic-lights-6300374.html
(that was quite a news back then)
I could not agree more regarding the nannying, and the majority of people do not think for themselves, even if they think they do.
Very few ever actually ask 'why' they just float along, trying to stay in their little comfort bubble.
The traffic light thing is also very true, around my area, Canterbury, when a set of lights on a big roundabout go down, the traffic flow improves greatly.
If you have ever ridden in Thailand, you will know that at first sight, it looks a mess, total carnage, but after spending a couple of days in it, you realise that those people are far better drivers/riders than most in the west, as they are aware, they think for themselves.
Sure, some come down the hard shoulder of the opposite carriageway, with hazards on, but it works, there is no aggression, and the only two accidents I saw were with western tourists.
I lost a friend last year on a bike and I've been skeptical about getting back on one, but seeing your 24hr trip has made me want to go balls deep back in to the motorcycling world, and stick my head in to some riding clunge (Y) please, please don't stop doing this, it's highly entertaining.
There were some lights out of action in Brighton a while ago. People said it was dangerous. Every time I went through it that night - faster, patience, safer, no-one honking aggressively.
Traffic lights really are the world's problem. Lol! Funny and astute my British friend!!! Good on ya!!!
dislike unsub from traffic lights. Roundabouts are fun, in fact I shall start calling them #kneedownabouts to increase their appeal. Maybe #driftabouts to pander to the filthy car culture ;) ;)
Hagz I believe you are on to something my friend! LMAO!
completely agree with you, people now don't think, they just do as they are told without even thinking of what could happen.
Driving looks so serene on these roads, commuting to work would be a breeze. At 5:04 , he comments about traffic , when it is so less.
I miss the videos where you grumble and moan as you drive through the city. It’s what made me subscribe in the first place. Please bring them back. You make valid points and those of us living in the colonies get to see and learn about what’s going on in London. We love you from America!!
Just watched the video you linked. I was sceptical about what you were saying until I saw the evidence for it. It is very true that I absolutely trash it off the line at green lights simply because of the frustration of having to stop for no reason.
I literally screamed YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS when I saw there was a new BVG video!
In japan they have alot of people like that, ones to tell you where to park and to tell you if its safe to pull out from a drive way. Was handy and seem to make everything smooth and easy.
So true, large village up the Rd called Braunton. Really busy holiday area and the village ever holiday maker has to drive through to get to their "resort". Always clogged up everyday in summer with lines of traffic for miles effecting all the other towns! One day the lights at the cross road died and it was the most that traffic has flowed in 20 years!!!
Lights everywhere here, before and after every roundabout (I shit you not) completely taking away the whole point of a roundabout in the first place!!!
It's interesting that you have ridden where you did while you were recording this. I noticed the large paved section of road where you mentioned that people were doing u-turns. The extention of the pattern onto the pedestrian area is directly related to what you are talking about. That type of design is supposed to 'blur' the line between the vehicle and the pedestrian area, as a result most motorists will slow down owing to the assumed increase in risk whilst driving through there. It is used often here in Australia.You'll probably find it came about via the theory of 'Risk Homeostasis'...... look it up, very interesting.
By far my favourite channel,
Bloody brilliant as usual Baron!
Side note* my mom is anti petrol and anything fast really, she wants us all to go back to horse and carriage... But she came and visited my wife and I recently, and we sat down every night and watched an episode of your trip to Spain. She loved it! ... She says your driving scares her hahaha, but your commentary was/is incredibly entertaining.
P.s. ... Just got my first actual Jizz Machine! CBR600rr! ... My fifth bike... But first sport bike :D
Guess I better buy a sticker now...
ChromeArty ah, thats nice that you watched the trip with them, seriously, its shit like that which makes me want to upload. Now go buy a fucking sticker ;)
***** Thanks Baron! I'll pass that along to Ma. Should put a big smile on her face :)
Yeah... there is a lot of pricks out there that have no sense of humor... but keep posting for the rest of us! VlogHim!!
Off to add to your Double Bloody Decker fund...
Double decker sales must have increased because of the Barron, I often purchase said chocolate nowadays, typically a bounty man.
I say Barron should get some free double deckers. Lol
My God,how did we ever manage back in the old days before the burden of having to think for ourselves was lifted?
Your rants and Star Trek TNG are my relaxtion in these cold winters lol
i go on these rants exactly like this all the time and the thing i always emphasize is people making their own decisions and thinking for themselves which is also what you said. i remember one specific time when i was with a buddy driving down a two lane road with a double yellow here in america (not sure if thats a worldwide line lol) and the car in front of me was pulling into a driveway and instead of doing what most people do and slam on my brakes i simply went around the guy with no danger to anyone because there was clearly no oncoming traffic and my friend goes "WHAT ARE YOU DOING" simply because i crossed the double yellow and i go on saying the same things you were saying about letting a bulb or a line on the road stop me from making certain choices and instead slam on my brakes wear out my brakes over time if i do that same thing another 500 times then go to the shop get em changed and it can go on and on. our brains are pretty similar haha i was just nodding and agreeing the whole video just like most of your videos lol
Baron, Great video as always mate...Slightly disappointed in the lack of knicker action but we can continue to blame the buses for they are an easy target for all our road troubles.
Never fail to cheer me up baron, listening to your daily rambles takes me away from my shit for those brief minutes. Appreciated mate.
South Florida tried to eliminate a few traffic lights with roundabouts and now idiots stop at them and in them rather than yielding and driving through. Also rarely are blinkers ever used when they travel more than one exit. Fun stuff.
In the same video, it's mentioned how simple it is to drive well and safely, and how simple machines are taking away humanness. Perhaps the traffic lights and such are not taking away this ability to reason, but instead allowing more interesting thoughts to unfold while mundane driving tasks are handled as externally as can be? I think it's one thing to enjoy driving, but it's another to forget it's point A to point B for others.
Hahahaha, I love how this ended.
Alternate ending dialogue - "Bloody double bloody decker"
People in the US only care about liability. They blindly do shit without thinking about common sense like trying to see if a car is coming. Survival instinct doesn't really exist. Self governance is a concept that works when people understand that their success depends on each other's success. The same goes for the rules enacted in current traffic systems today. If you tailgate, that causes issues, hog the passing lane, run a stop or more. It's all a question of a little patience benefiting everyone. That does work in a collective society like Japan for instance. Country like the US or UK on the other hand, people want to get ahead and its dog eat dog which leads to all the issues. Ride in India sometime. People do look and some driving a bigger vehicle don't care. Dog eat dog principle without any care for your fellow man. It's chaos for the most part.
There's a few intersections near where I live that would be an absolute mess without lights, one of them used to not have them, but people kept crashing and dying there, so they put one in place and it's not terrifying to turn there. So there's that.
It's great idea to make people think more about the traffic rules and avoid dangers themselves, but it wouldn't work, though. As you said, people wouldn't argue about whether they ran a red light or not, but on the other hand - there are people with no respect for traffic rules. Last month I was riding my motorbike in the city and a car didn't yield to me while approaching an intersection without traffic lights and I crashed into it. He claimed I'd been riding too fast. Police had to come and watch the CCTV record to prove my innocence. So yeah - people wouldn't argue about red lights, but they would argue about right-of-way, though.
I like the video. But what I like is to see the city of London and surrounding areas. Maybe I'll stay a while next year and it is nice to see a bit of the place. Thanks for posting.
The places where they have experimented with this type of thing are a town in Holland and then Ashford kent. It works ok, I don't know of any more or less accidents but it seems to calm people's driving down a bit.
The funny thing is that just after you start suggesting it in the vid, you entered a part of London that has already had this treatment. The bit where all the cars are doing U turns.
Completely agree, its been bugging me for ages. People only want to get involved with something politically or morally if it requires little or no sacrifice or effort on there part, like with the random human interest stories that pop up all the time. They want the feeling of making a difference without any of the repercussions and that way they probably feel as-if there doing there part for the greater good. Being self righteous isn't a licence to do as you please without considering or caring for the effect of it.
What I love about crossings in London is the look left/right thing.
I'm used to look the other way as I come from other country. It's great that Brits understand they are the deviants over here ;)
Speaking like a true individual Baron. People do need to learn to think for themselves. Instead of learning how to solve problems, people these days are obsessed with safety and looking for reasons to get offended at anything. Look at the people who are truly happy : the people that accomplish things for themselves, rather than the people that stand with their hands out expecting hand outs and safety.
I like the thought behind no traffic lights. I have experienced the reality of this in egypt fora year, believe me stick with some order. Oh, we could get rid of lights for right hand feeder lanes and just give way. Spain do it well with flashing amber to proceed with caution, perhaps we should do that.
I remember that when I was a kid, there was something called "common sense".
But i can't find it anymore...
And so it goes for civility and integrity.
Julz Amen
Nice one Barron. Health and Safety in the UK is crazy at the mo. I know a workplace where you must hold the banister when walking up or downstairs or you get reported.
The worst example is when the junction designers put in a left filter and then slap lights on them so you can't even FILTER! In the US they allow right turns on red and it works really well, because u can use your brain instead of waiting for a light bulb.
"Oh, Bloody bus" I think what Baron meant to say was, "Oh, Bloody double decker"
I think the PSCO's are there for the vehicles benefit. As you said, when there are loads of people you can't drive through.
Some people could easily cope without lights and road rules but many wouldn't and the result would be an even worse mess...
20mph is the worse thing that has happened in London and surrounding areas. It causes so much frustration and overtaking etc
Love these classic videos Baron!
"bloody bus.." at the end there , fucking brilliant , made my day :)
That experiment was in Drachten, the Netherlands about 10 years ago. Not sure what came of it.
in my small town where i was born we had no traffic lights and i can remember only one stop sign one of the main roads went through the town so alot of trafic was going through yet in my 6 years i lived there i never seen an accident and only heard of 2 caused by drunk drivers.....
Somebody agreed and hence invented the 'smart traffic light' that react to sensors in the ground that notice whether there are vehicles or not and thus change according to traffic and expected number of cars crossing that light, on different times and situations. However no one will pay for an installation of these
You're a rebel if you blow through a red light, you're a murderer if you blow through a person blocking and directing pedestrians at the crosswalk at a red light.
He's literally a human shield.
VALID POINT ABOUT THE LIGHTBULB!
although london drivers would be like headless chickens now without them
The greatest contribution to road safety would be to fit a six inch spike in the centre of every car's steering wheel.
It's interesting what you say about green lights Baron....the law in Canada states you can only enter the intersection on green ONLY when it's clear. :)
The planet isn't our problem, government and it's hamstring effect on human agency is. If we were not micro managed to the nth degree, we'd behave more like adults and find solutions and correct local problems more efficiently.
I totally agree baron, I live in Milton Keynes and apart from a couple of traffic lights in the town centre its all roundabouts. there is never any real traffic, we have separate walk ways/red routs so its very rare people need to walk across the roads. if the rest of the country was like mk it would be awesome!
You missed a perfect opportunity when the bus drove by blocking the chick with the short skirt. 'Double bloody decker!'
"Comply with the fucking light-bulb"
At least we could start with the right turn rule California has. Red light you can turn right. In UK it would have to be turn left but it really works and reduces congestion !
Make your fricking videos longer an more often cose they rock!
Prime example of why I enjoy watching your vids. Finally a man with enough balls and brains to tell it how it is. We as people are becoming such dumb pansy asses that we freak the fuck out if there isn't any order instead of thinking for yourself
Most real video by Baron thus far.
OMG, I just found your channel and instantly subscribed!! Your are funny, you remind me of a Scottish Friend we we call Blue Machete. Love your discussions and sarcasm!
About bloody time.
Please start a petition grumble! You have the right outlook on life, please make a change you have all our votes!
Here is a qoute taken from a BBC NEWS magazine article titled "The city that lets cyclists jump red lights"
"the two ends of the Champs Elysees - the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde - have different systems for regulating traffic.
At the Place de la Concorde there are traffic lights; at the Arc de Triomphe - with its 12 avenues entering the bewildering Etoile roundabout - there are none. Yet the accident rate at the Place de la Concorde is five times higher than at Etoile.
"That is because at the Arc de Triomphe drivers are obliged to be careful. The traffic lights act as an automatic trigger, and that is dangerous."
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-33773868
What navigation system do you have?
And is there an option to put self made routes in it?
Love your voice and the content! Keep going!
Question : Which light in a traffic light sequence makes drivers speed up ?
The answer should none of them , but sadly.. it is the amber light .
At least you get some roundabouts there... here in Canada most people are roundaboutophobic so the cities almost exclusively use traffic lights. Can't count the number of times I've been downtown in the middle of the night without another vehicle for MILES around waiting for the bloody light to change and let me through the empty intersection. That is if the sensor in the road even detects me and my motorbike are there.
Fair play, Baron. I think you are right in some respects- we have too much of a nanny culture going on. I have a personal beef with 'safety' cameras.
However, if I may play the devils advocate, I would argue that we have to err on the side of safety to account for the minority.
99% of people would drive more safely if presented with a situation, such as fewer road instructions, where they had to think about and concentrate on their actions. Yet there would be a 1% of people who would flout everyone else's consideration for their own benefit which would undoubtedly lead to dangerous situations, frustrations and accidents. (Please don't counter with the argument of natural selection because if said driver wiped out a school bus full of children then no matter how one might rationalize it it would still suck).
So to combat this, you might argue, we should implement tougher training and more thorough examinations whilst learning to drive which would, I admit, improve the overall experience of driving for everyone. But a more in-depth program would cost more when its already rather pricey to learn to drive thus affording only the more privileged the ability to drive and undoing a revelation that started way back with the Ford model-T (Stated to be a car for the people that all can afford). And with a wealthy to poor divide that is growing still at an exponential speed, while public service spending is rapidly decreasing, I can only come to one conclusion:
If we were to remove the traffic lights from London the whole nation would erupt in bloodshed spawning another civil war killing hundreds of thousands. Of course the UN would get involved and the conflict would spread to Europe frightening the Americans who would then Nuke everyone just because they can.
So, Baron, in the face of this argument, what say you?
P.s. Have you tried the new Cloudy lemonade lucozade yet?- its magnificent.
The Mad Manic Courier McShouty haha. Well, i think it COULD be a misconception that chaos would occur... it seems a likely outcome but who knows - we may be surprised if we try. This is a pretty interesting watch: ruclips.net/video/ZeryaK22ntw/видео.html
*****
Ok, I will give that video it's dues- it was pretty convincing and shows that a system such as that can work when used in the right environment. But I still cant escape from my initial argument that there will be the odd selfish person who would muck up the whole thing. Believe me, I have been stuck in some horrid jams in my time while in London and I have cursed the traffic light God's on many an occasion but in an environment such as london the lights are very much needed. The archaic road layout, born of a city that has grown organically since its creation many hundreds of years ago, is far too complex for it not to need an element of control. We should look at places like Milton Keynes as an example- designed and built as a modern city its roads allow the flow of traffic through the utilization of round-abouts and intersecting straight roads. So maybe the argument shouldn't be whether we should dispose of traffic lights but instead the argument for dismantling parts of london to move them to build (a) new city/s in the template of Milton Keynes.
Also, as a biker, I feel a lot safer with traffic lights then I would without them. Aside from the maniacs, all it would take is for one driver to have a lapse in concentration to take me off and my job is dangerous enough as it is- hit twice in one year and had my ankle put back together only recently.
I would love to see roads where everyone is empathetic and polite but I just don't see it happening in somewhere such as London because come rush hour everything is still going to back up causing frustrations leading to selfish behaviour.
I tell ya what, Baron, if the whole of London is ever subject to a week long experiment (including at peak hours) of no lights and everything runs like clockwork then I will clean your bikes for free everyday for a month. However, if it were to fail then you must do the same for me- knowing that i'm a courier riding in all weathers I should also state that I have an off-roader that is heavily abused on weekends. (and providing that America hasn't nuked us all).
Alternatively, you could head south to Sierra Leone and try driving through Freetown where there are no lights and miles of cars just sitting because of the cluster fvck that is a city center without any traffic signals. Maybe I'm missing your point.
nice train of thought and thanks for shareing. Not fully sure on the city without any visual aids (tehehe). One thought that struck me is where is the consequenses for a redlight jumper? Fair enough people may be careful in the beginning but not when its the norm, atleast not all of them.
4 ways stops aren't much better here in the states, as people don't pay attention or know how to use them. It is fun to watch the tourists visiting Aspen try the roundabouts, they are really not used to those here
Derek Olsen Ride around Aspen, CO long enough and you might run into Tom Cruise. Just look for the munchkin on the Ducati.
Telluride for Tommy boy
It's worse at night sat at a red light when you know it is safe to go. My idea would be for example at night at a crossroad have the busiest road permanent green lights and the smaller road remain amber. The solid amber meaning give way.
Good vid, and the linked one about removing traffic lights. Well done!
I think our traffic lights we have these days are just a level above a stop watch.
We need systems that account for all vehicles, and make traffic flow as good as possible, you know, so save the environment and stuff... Or rather just to make driving easier and more comfortable.
You should go to Thailand, there are no rules, every driver pays attention to what is infront of them and and ten degrees to each side and in my 3 weeks there I didn't see a single close call. The road deaths are higher mainly because people don't wear helmets, but after you get used to the flow, it honestly is much nicer to ride in than uk cities.
Its all very well saying that for normal sane people....!!!
That junction with the knicker girl would be a accident waiting to happen.
Your slang and the way you speak is the best xD
Damn that bus
After years of UK congestion killing my soul (even by bike), I have given up and moved 4 miles from work. I am hoping to sell the car, keep the bike, and take the bus to work in winter. I'm not even kidding.
Always love a bit of knicker action
My BaronVonGrumble stickers arrived today in the mail! I knew exactly what it was when it said Royal Mail :)