Highway Code Learning

Traffic Lights

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The Highway code traffic lights and the learner driver. What exactly does it mean?
We have all seen traffic lights along the road, but how many of us have really noticed them in detail and understand what they mean to the road user.

The Highway code traffic lights section can be difficult to relate to the actual traffic lights when read in isolation from the traffic light you see on the roadside.

This page has been created to show you a real example of how I would use the Quantum learning technique to clarify to my students any subject they are presented with, in this case Highway code traffic lights.

When you look into the Highway code and find the section on traffic lights, it looks like this (without the numbers):

Highway code traffic lights with numbers added

By adding the numbers below the traffic lights you have achieved two situations that can help with your understanding of the Highway code traffic light operation and application when driving.

• You can use the numbers as a reference in your understanding as to the colour changes involved.
• By adding the numbers below you have created a numerical sequence of the colour changes.
  This is the way you were taught in primary school i.e you count 1, 2, 3, 4 etc.
  You were not taught that red follows amber.

Students are asked to look at the picture for a few minutes, without giving any reason why. When my student has finished looking (they decide when to finish, not myself). I then ask them what colour sequence of the traffic light follows amber. I ask this without reference to the number beneath. 100% so far have answered correctly. Whereas prior to introducing the numbers my students would have said "Either Red or Green can follow amber".

Learn the traffic light sequence first

When you need to learn a new subject, break it down into small chunks and have some strategy that you have developed yourself.

By developing your own strategy for remembering new information you are more likely to make it work. I give my students tips, advice and ecouragement to develop their own techniques.
First learn the colours of a traffic light.
Look at traffic light number '1'
RED
next '2'
RED + AMBER
next '3'
GREEN,
next '4'
AMBER on its own
next back to '1'
RED.
Go over this sequence until you can answer any question given to you on the colour changes, before moving on to what the colours represent.

Highway code traffic lights.
Do you know the colours?

Looking in your Highway code you will see written underneath the traffic light colours an explanation of each one. Read the explanations slowly and understand their meaning.

An easy way to remember the explanations is to say to yourself that all colours of the traffic lights means stop, except for the GREEN. Once you have grasped that you can move on to your driving technique and the practical way you deal with traffic lights.
After you have read the Highway code traffic lights section, see if you can answer this question:
What does GREEN mean in the traffic lights sequence?

1. Go…
   Check your answer
2. Go with caution…
   Check your answer
3. Put your car into gear and take the handbrake off…
   Check your answer
4. Go if it's clear…
   Check your answer
5. Check your mirrors before moving off…
   Check your answer

Do we need traffic lights at all? When there are no traffic lights, there are no traffic jams. When there are no traffic lights there are fewer accidents.
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