Red Means Stop

Before I wrote this blog I was hoping I could find a Barbados Road Traffic Rules and Regulations book to be sure I hadn’t been taught the wrong when I did my regulations test. I always thought and assumed that when you came to a red light that you stopped. However I am hearing these days that this is a conditional situation. Apparently it is ok to run a red light if you are familiar with the junction that you are at.

There is a school of thought that if you need to be somewhere in a hurry that it might be ok to run the junction. When the lights are red apparently the junction is invitingly ready for you to fly through. The added dangers add an air of excitement that make the driving experience even better and more fun. It is truly a mind-blowing experience for the dare devil in us all.

For some reason this logic doesn’t sit well with what I learnt. I envision a scene straight from E.R. with blood all over the place as a result of running such red light. Then to be ostracized by society for such reckless driving seems not worth the waiting 4-7 seconds for the light to change. The only time that I can see me running a red light are those very rare situations when you are in a hurry and you reach the light on amber.

You’ve travelled on average 28 miles. Some miles will be better than others and some will not be so why not use these few seconds to relax and prepare for the next 28 miles? Some drivers have also adopted the basis of being able to read the lights at their usual junction and having a side route to get keep them constantly rolling. This generally gains them a few extra miles but severe accidents have been known to occur when routes cross.

My advice to all the drivers out there is simply to enjoy the 28 miles and take a rest for this few seconds the lights are on red. Green go, amber slow and red means stop.