Drivers who willfully block the box get away with it time after time after time. That needs to change
It's time to increase fines from $85 to $500 for blocking the box on any and all intersections. Doing so would make it's safer for everyone including pedestrians.
I think fines and enforcement for all intersection related offences should increase.
Cops focus way too much on speeding along the highways and not enough with trying to catch people running red lights and stop signs, blocking intersections, taking left turns while pedestrians are crossing, etc.
So many people die from intersections and pedestrian crossing yet cops focus on highway speeding for some reason.
I can think of several specific intersections in both my home city and current city where nearly every light cycle a law is broken. Running reds, continuing advanced lefts several cars after signal change, near pedestrian misses, blocking the intersection, texting while driving, lane changes mid intersection, turning left but jumping 1-2 lanes extra to the right.
If your city has a stroad, you probably have an intersection experiencing this daily.
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If it's anything like in the US sometimes the intersections are screwed up and you can sit at a light through a few greens without moving because the road you need to go on gets filled by turning lanes before the light turns red and fills up before yours is green again.
Which is what makes the next people feel like they have to pile in to the box or they'll never get anywhere.
It's the same where rights are allowed on reds. If you don't pile into the box and there is a line of cars waiting to make a right, someone WILL steal that spot when it opens up just past the box, because people are selfish assholes, full stop.
Entitlement, carelessness, audacity and a single-minded devotion to self-interest all swirl together and trigger a brain response that tells the driver, “This is okay.”
It delays other drivers and puts pedestrians and cyclists in danger, as they must squeeze around vehicles that could move at any moment.
In 2018, NYPD uniformed officers began to crack down on violators at 50 select New York City intersections and “Don’t Block the Box” signs were posted to warn drivers.
In April 2023, Toronto city council approved a motion from Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie imploring the provincial government to implement severe penalties.
In April 2023, Toronto assigned 30 traffic agents to work troubled intersections and prevent drivers from blocking the box, but that’s cold comfort.
And so, in Toronto and the rest of the country, irresponsible drivers will continue to plug our intersections.
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Also, people who don't engage their turn signal until after the light turns green. If you didn't warn me to change lanes before getting behind you because you're planning to turn, you shouldn't get to block my procession. Unenforceable, but it bothers me.
Wow, the number of people here who are all "The meth addicts who carry firearms on the job and have a rich and unwavering history of racial profiling should be more involved in minor non-violent offenses" is kind of crazy. Have any of y'all thought this one through at all?