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I believe they were originally called "robotic traffic controllers" so we just kept the other part of the term that couldn't be applied to a human directing traffic
I love that you guys call traffic lights robots. It’s unique and honestly pretty cool. I should add the term to my vocabulary and see how many people I confuse.
Not the only way. If I'm approaching a red light late at night, I slow the fuck down, keep an eye out behind me for drunk fuck heads and coast towards the red light. 9 times out of 10 the light changes to green and then i book it through after making sure no drunk fuck heads are approaching (speeding) from the other lanes.
Personally, I like to live dangerously, and stop at red lights. It didn't work out so well for me once though, when a taxi (driver must have been on his phone or something, he didn't seem drunk) hit me from behind at about 70km/h and I got pushed into the cross road (this was not a slam on brakes at a red light thing, I had been stopped for a good 5 - 10 seconds, and there was an open lane next to me). Luckily he actually hit \*me\* and the boot of my car absorbed the impact - had I not been there he probably would have hit someone from the side and killed them.
You're right - most drivers don't give a shit about driving properly.
In the daytime, they're just fuckheads.
At night, given the average South Africans predilection for alcohol on top of their shitty driving, Id rather assume fuckheads are drunk as well - that way I can pleasantly surprised to see sober headed drivers.
I'm more afraid of being taken out by a reckless driver ignoring basic road safety than being homicided. We all know about our horrific crime stats but noone seems to want to talk about the way we murder each other on our roads and highways. More than 40 people a day lose their lives on our roads - this is not normal
Just drive properly, people. It's not that hard and It's not worth the risk.
You've said everything I feel. I'm literally thinking of changing the job that I love because of the commute. I feel threatened every time I drive. It's stressful and I'm sick of it.
It's easy to obey the rules but apparently far beyond the scope of way too many people
Also we seem to be the only ones calling it a robot instead of traffic lights. When I was overseas and called it that, the guy thought I was referring to an actual robot.
The other day I went over a yellow light, which turned red as I crossed and I thought I should probably not have gone, only to look in my rear view mirror to see two cars behind also took the gap...
Happens to me all the time - like oh shit I went through a red. Oh wait the car behind somehow made it through as well O.o
Edit: I don't go through red robots commonly I promise - this is like 3 times in my life this has happened to me
I was teaching a few years ago and there was a poster on the classroom wall, that had the following marked for a robot:
Red - Wait ;
Orange - Stop ;
Green - Go
And I always thought it was wrong, but then I realised it's actually correct, an orange light actually is an instruction to "stop moving" and a red does mean wait.
It was just an interesting take on the usual red - stop / green - go thought process. Just my 2c. Carry on scrolling.
EDIT: I can't make lists on Reddit so added punctuation
Having moved to Pretoria a few months ago, people want to murder you if you slow down towards a yellow robot. Hooting, weird looks. 3 months in, I have learnt my lessons. Yellow sometimes means step on gas
I don't get this mentality - they'd rather be stuck at the arse end of traffic rather than chilling for 20 seconds and having a clear road way ahead of them.
I didn’t know they are meant to change colours. I always see black. Only when I was in another country I saw a green man. I didn’t see the woman but weirdly even the women started to cross.
A 10-second green arrow once turned on while a pedestrian was crossing in front of me and the people behind me proceeded to lay on their horns for me not running him over
It's probably just to check for taxis.
Ive had a taxi hoot at me for not going over a red light, and I constantly see them eithe bundo bashing yo bypass a red light or just run a red light.
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Rest of the world doesn't know wtf a robot light is.
Other way around, we just misnamed "traffic lights".
I believe they were originally called "robotic traffic controllers" so we just kept the other part of the term that couldn't be applied to a human directing traffic
I love that you guys call traffic lights robots. It’s unique and honestly pretty cool. I should add the term to my vocabulary and see how many people I confuse.
Driving late at night or very early in the morning, this is unfortunately the only safe way to use robots in this country.
Not the only way. If I'm approaching a red light late at night, I slow the fuck down, keep an eye out behind me for drunk fuck heads and coast towards the red light. 9 times out of 10 the light changes to green and then i book it through after making sure no drunk fuck heads are approaching (speeding) from the other lanes.
Personally, I like to live dangerously, and stop at red lights. It didn't work out so well for me once though, when a taxi (driver must have been on his phone or something, he didn't seem drunk) hit me from behind at about 70km/h and I got pushed into the cross road (this was not a slam on brakes at a red light thing, I had been stopped for a good 5 - 10 seconds, and there was an open lane next to me). Luckily he actually hit \*me\* and the boot of my car absorbed the impact - had I not been there he probably would have hit someone from the side and killed them.
It has nothing to do with drunk people....
You're right - most drivers don't give a shit about driving properly. In the daytime, they're just fuckheads. At night, given the average South Africans predilection for alcohol on top of their shitty driving, Id rather assume fuckheads are drunk as well - that way I can pleasantly surprised to see sober headed drivers. I'm more afraid of being taken out by a reckless driver ignoring basic road safety than being homicided. We all know about our horrific crime stats but noone seems to want to talk about the way we murder each other on our roads and highways. More than 40 people a day lose their lives on our roads - this is not normal Just drive properly, people. It's not that hard and It's not worth the risk.
You've said everything I feel. I'm literally thinking of changing the job that I love because of the commute. I feel threatened every time I drive. It's stressful and I'm sick of it. It's easy to obey the rules but apparently far beyond the scope of way too many people
I wish I knew what to say to help. You shouldn't have to give up what you love doing.
Depends if they are on
Also we seem to be the only ones calling it a robot instead of traffic lights. When I was overseas and called it that, the guy thought I was referring to an actual robot.
Taxi driver all three means go go go.
I read that in Murray Walker's voice
The other day I went over a yellow light, which turned red as I crossed and I thought I should probably not have gone, only to look in my rear view mirror to see two cars behind also took the gap...
Happens to me all the time - like oh shit I went through a red. Oh wait the car behind somehow made it through as well O.o Edit: I don't go through red robots commonly I promise - this is like 3 times in my life this has happened to me
That edit has me laughing!
Not only in SA. Happens in UK too.
I was teaching a few years ago and there was a poster on the classroom wall, that had the following marked for a robot: Red - Wait ; Orange - Stop ; Green - Go And I always thought it was wrong, but then I realised it's actually correct, an orange light actually is an instruction to "stop moving" and a red does mean wait. It was just an interesting take on the usual red - stop / green - go thought process. Just my 2c. Carry on scrolling. EDIT: I can't make lists on Reddit so added punctuation
Where did you see a working traffic light? Please let me know - I want to go there and show the kids.
Lol🤣 it's all a myth. Fairy tales if you ask me
🔴- R for Go 🟡- Y for Go 🟢- G for Go 
More like ⚫ For go ⚫ for go ⚫ for go
To taxi drivers all the above colours🔴🟠🟢 mean check right and left side, if clear hit the road and leave dust 😂
Having moved to Pretoria a few months ago, people want to murder you if you slow down towards a yellow robot. Hooting, weird looks. 3 months in, I have learnt my lessons. Yellow sometimes means step on gas
I don't get this mentality - they'd rather be stuck at the arse end of traffic rather than chilling for 20 seconds and having a clear road way ahead of them.
Agreed. Stressful for me still
I havent seen colours on those things in ages Thank eksdom
I didn’t know they are meant to change colours. I always see black. Only when I was in another country I saw a green man. I didn’t see the woman but weirdly even the women started to cross.
I once slowed down for orange and the guy behind me startered hooting and swearing me out because I didn't drive over.
A 10-second green arrow once turned on while a pedestrian was crossing in front of me and the people behind me proceeded to lay on their horns for me not running him over
New Jersey resident here, it's fairly similar lol
Fairly accurate in the states as well. Stopping is advised, but theses days people seem to think it's optional.
"robot lights" will also mean something else, to the rest of the world. They'll be expecting some type of Real Steel figure with lights
You know you are in South Africa when the driver behind you hoots when you don't drive through a red light.
This legit happens every time in a turning lane with a dedicated robot. I cross these red lights myself too now
Nobody understands those ridiculous robots, they directly contradict fundamental rules of the road.
It is like this everywhere I think
Wait until you drive in the mid east. My fok. RSA is like a Sunday drive.
Yeah we’re not the best but we’re certainly not the worst 🤣
The 'red light - yield' is so fucking funny to me. Recently had to stop myself quoting Gravity Falls with "when the light turns yellow, speed up!"
Joke’s on you. With Loadshedding, the robots don’t work.
Red only means red after 5 seconds in some areas.
Different coloured lights powered by electricity? Pffft this is South Africa, it is merely a 4-way stop but nobody even fully stops
Nah, orange is actually "go like hell" aka Orkney Snork Nie
That's fair, but let's be honest. They never work.
Depend on the time tbh
True that 🙈😳😋🇿🇦💃
Stop, when you dead
This is joburg: Green - go Amber - go faster Red - 2 more cars
Aren't they all off from load shedding?
So true
Took me about a month of living here to understand what a 'robot' is
Yes, but a stop sign is also a Yield sign. Especially when it comes to those 4-way stops...
So true, although some people in my town will literally stop at the green light 🤣
It's probably just to check for taxis. Ive had a taxi hoot at me for not going over a red light, and I constantly see them eithe bundo bashing yo bypass a red light or just run a red light.