Why do people creep at red lights?

Where, exactly, do they think they are going to go?

I think they're just impatient hoping to get a head-start. Or maybe they think they'll trip a sensor that will make the light turn faster, which yeah, makes them impatient...I'll go with that.

To hit the sensor.

Or the jerk behind them is riding on their Bumper

The 'sensor' is a large square ring of metal in the pavement. If you're over any part of it, you're disrupting the magnetic field and thus it knows you're there. There's no 'button' you have to wiggle around to hit.

They're probably impatient or are the kind of people who get fidgety when just sitting still so they feel that they need to do something.

From my understanding is, there's some kind of Red Light sensors meaning, when you stop at a red light, most cars will let the brakes go softly just to trigger the green lights but of course, I also notice the sensors are really noticeable if your turning left at the light and moving slowly will let the red light know there's a car ready to turn left.

Their impatient. The worst ones are those who creep constantly as if they're about to race, but when the green light comes they're very slow to react. I don't get it... >_>

Those are called induction loops. If something metal is over them, it disrupts the magnetic field and it knows something is there. Moving doesn't do a damn thing to 'trigger' them.

If your chassis is too high as in some raised trucks, or you're on a small bike, you may not even be able to trigger them at all.

This is the worst! I prefer the red light creeps to the snail's slow reaction red lighters.

I was always under the impression it was to trip the sensor.

As for what good it does, maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. It's all electronics and software, which is prone to errors, quirks, and issues so maybe moving over it some more does do something on occasion. I don't know.

I've sat at lights for five minutes at 3 AM before with literally no traffic at all, and when I've crept forward two feet, lo and behold, the light went green a few seconds later. Coincidence? Maybe...maybe not. I was definitely over the trigger before but moving over it some more might have worked.

Tripping the sensors

Of all the annoying things that drivers do - changing lanes without signalling; speeding 20-30 MPH over the speed limit on highways; backing up traffic to make a turn on one specific street where it's very busy and a huge inconvenience to cars behind them when they could just as easily drive down a few blocks to another street with a traffic light that even gives them their own time to turn and not back up traffic - this is what bothers you guys? Really?

I'd like to add one thing that bothers me - when you're trying to make a left turn, and there is a pile of cars coming from the opposite lane so you have to wait.... And then you would be able to make it, if it weren't for that slow asshole at the back of the pack who moves just slow enough that he obstructs your opportunity to turn, and more traffic begins to close the gap behind them.

I think I heard somewhere that if you creep instead of coming to a complete stop its good for fuel economy?

No one creeps much where I am. Dashcam footage from my wife's car.

I creep for a smoother take off. It's less abrupt than from a standstill, even if only minimally so.

I've had that happen as well. I've also had it happen where one lane in a particular intersection with a double turn lane doesn't appear to be sensored and I get ignored for a whole exchange at night but if i back out and switch lanes it picks me up right away. Regardless of how the sensors are supposed to work, many people might not understand how they are supposed to work, or one might be busted, etc. Or maybe some people just like not holding still, like bicyclists who keep their balance instead of putting a foot down.

-Byshop

I'd rather them creep than sit on their phones and then have to honk at them when they don't go. Lol

I also hate that--just go, people! I also find it funny when huge 4x4 trucks take dainty turns. It's so funny, and a little sad and pathetic. Lol

Oh my god, I think I actually just figured out why people creep at red lights!

Coincidence? I think not!

Rolling start. Every light is a start of a race, son.

@br0kenrabbit said:

@davillain- said:

From my understanding is, there's some kind of Red Light sensors meaning, when you stop at a red light, most cars will let the brakes go softly just to trigger the green lights but of course, I also notice the sensors are really noticeable if your turning left at the light and moving slowly will let the red light know there's a car ready to turn left.

Those are called induction loops. If something metal is over them, it disrupts the magnetic field and it knows something is there. Moving doesn't do a damn thing to 'trigger' them.

If your chassis is too high as in some raised trucks, or you're on a small bike, you may not even be able to trigger them at all.

Really? All this time, I didn't know this! I guess it makes sense cause I do know Earth has weak magnetic fields to disrupt red lights. And here I thought it was all about triggering the lights to know a Car is there.

Well, I do it because I don't like sitting on my brakes (My car idles a little rough when I'm just sitting on my brakes) and it makes for a much smoother take off....

@br0kenrabbit said:

@davillain- said:

From my understanding is, there's some kind of Red Light sensors meaning, when you stop at a red light, most cars will let the brakes go softly just to trigger the green lights but of course, I also notice the sensors are really noticeable if your turning left at the light and moving slowly will let the red light know there's a car ready to turn left.

Those are called induction loops. If something metal is over them, it disrupts the magnetic field and it knows something is there. Moving doesn't do a damn thing to 'trigger' them.

If your chassis is too high as in some raised trucks, or you're on a small bike, you may not even be able to trigger them at all.

I don't think we have them here. I know I can trigger the sensor in the nearest light controlled intersection by walking across the road.

Because they have no patience. They hop off the line like a bullet, then race off, often past the speed limit, only to stomp on the brakes for the next red light.

What they don't realize, is the less space they have between them and the person in front of them, it takes more time to get going. If you leave more space, you can start rolling and gearing up as the person in front is doing the same.

You can notice who these people are, just look at their steer tire rims, they will be darker than those on the rear end, from all the brake dust they wear off their shoes from heavily applying the brakes at every stop.

I kinda do this sometimes and I think it's just from observing other people doing it. I'm usually not in any particular rush, I just sometimes like that my car is already slightly moving when it hits green. I only do this when I'm front in line of course. I watch the lights and then anticipate when my light will turn green. It's almost some sort of game and it's pretty much harmless as long as you aren't getting too far ahead obviously.

I used to do that a lot, years ago. But rarely do it these days.

Here where I live, I've seen some people with fast cars creep. The cops here don't care how quickly motorists get to the speed limit so long as they don't go 5 mph over and no wheel spin/tire-smoking antics. I would guess some of those with turbos are creeping to keep the turbo spooling.

@jun_aka_pekto: is the rationale for dash cam in tuscon AZ, to protect yourself against insurance fraudsters that jump out in front of you when you are going 3 miles per hour? and then blame you for herniated discs and arthritis that they had for the past 10 years prior to even attempting fraud?

Nah. Just to catch in the act dumbass drivers like this one. We knew for a while this guy was texting and not paying enough attention to his driving.

@multiplat: Dashcams are also good for recording road trips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBl6_3vFQYU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSP4QD_IXmc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Coc8jYd7Ks

I love how he carries on down the road as if nothing happens.

My wife said the truck started trailing blue smoke as it moved out of view. Something got messed up when he hit those rocks/boulders.

Anyway, I gave a copy of the video clip to the homeowner. I doubt he did anything with it though. The next day, he had reassembled the boulders with the mailboxes on top. ;)

Here's one of mine from almost a year ago. I had a trainee driving at the time, he handled it well.

@foxhound_fox: Oh Christ.

Strange as it may sound...... At least the guy driving on the opposite shoulder was (definitely) paying attention to his driving. I'd let the cops deal with him if I was there. The dufus in my video was definitely brain dead. ;)

@foxhound_fox: Still doesn't bother me as much as those guys who try to pass you without being able to see if there's incoming traffic and then either just slam the brakes and stop in the opposite lane or try to ram your car not to get front slammed by the incoming cars.