One thing I find frustrating about driving in the US is that stop signs are everywhere! Even on a fully open junction in a quiet suburb where you can see a good

One thing I find frustrating about driving in the US is that stop signs are everywhere! Even on a fully open junction in a quiet suburb where you can see a good few hundred feet down the road, you still have to stop. I know it's the law, but why? In the UK you don't have to stop at every junction, if the junction is open (i.e. you can see traffic clearly) and it's clear you can go on through without stopping. If the junction is closed (i.e. you can't see oncoming/cross traffic) then you must stop, and get a good visual before pulling out. As a result of this cyclists in the UK already don't stop at junctions because, unless its a closed junction, no one has to stop if it's clear. I'm pretty sure in the US you can crawl right on a right light if it's clear so what's the difference in letting a cyclist carefully go through a stop sign or red light?