This may be a tactic for a "girlie-man", but I'll take the heat...
Lately, I've been rolling up to an intersection but staying back 3 - 5 vehicle lengths. I let the eager beavers charge through when the light goes green, and usually I have the road to myself after they are gone, and I still have ample time to get across.
I think I get the following advantages:
1. I avoid most of the risk of a red-light runner killing me (never be the first one out of the chute!)
2. I avoid getting run over by a right-turner (left-turner in the UK), they've made their turn by the time I get going
Disadvantages:
1. It does introduce delays
2. It doesn't work if the traffic is not coming in waves governed by the lights. If it is just solid - solid - solid cars one after another, there is no calm space behind the initial wave
Lately, I've been rolling up to an intersection but staying back 3 - 5 vehicle lengths. I let the eager beavers charge through when the light goes green, and usually I have the road to myself after they are gone, and I still have ample time to get across.
I think I get the following advantages:
1. I avoid most of the risk of a red-light runner killing me (never be the first one out of the chute!)
2. I avoid getting run over by a right-turner (left-turner in the UK), they've made their turn by the time I get going
Disadvantages:
1. It does introduce delays
2. It doesn't work if the traffic is not coming in waves governed by the lights. If it is just solid - solid - solid cars one after another, there is no calm space behind the initial wave