# Spiny Norman Helps Save LAPD Detective Maimed In NY's Eve Motorcycle Crash \[Edited title\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 4, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855 "2014-01-04T06:06:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855/21 "2014-01-12T01:02:13Z")

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> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> People will abuse that. There will still be cars going through on red.
> 
> A delay between the red and the opposing green is a good one. Harder to cheat it.

If this were a standard-width intersection, a longer yellow would be a problem. But because it’s so wide, it takes longer to get across, meaning a longer yellow would give people coming up behind the first couple of cars that go through on yellow, reason to believe it _must_ be about to turn red because it’s been yellow so long, and _stop_ instead of trying to be the third car through. Not sure I’m explaining that right, but it makes sense in my head.

Anyway, that plus the delay between red and green, _and_ a red light camera, _and_ the protected left-turn arrow should all work in combination to at least make that intersection _safer_, even if not 100% idiot-proof.

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**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855/22 "2014-01-12T01:39:34Z")

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Good work SNorman…

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**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855/23 "2014-01-12T16:17:14Z")

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I’m proud of you both, **Spiny Norman** and **Shayna**. Way to step up…!

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiny-norman-helps-save-lapd-detective-maimed-in-nys-eve-motorcycle-crash-edited-title/677855/24 "2014-01-12T16:28:11Z")

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> [@Shayna](#):
>
> Not sure I’m explaining that right, but it makes sense in my head.
> 
> Anyway, that plus the delay between red and green, _and_ a red light camera, _and_ the protected left-turn arrow should all work in combination to at least make that intersection _safer_, even if not 100% idiot-proof.

No, you explained it right. 🙂 I’m in a place where people do not understand the concept of ‘Do Not Block Intersection’ (and the posted signs are not enforced), and think it’s OK to turn left on red because their bumper is _almost_ up to the limit line.

I missed the left-turn arrow comment. That’s a good idea for ‘complicated’ intersections. More safety margin, less room for ‘interpretation’.

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