damn camera, did i get caught?

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 19:24

Hi all

comming up to a set of Traffic lights in Northampton today, i saw the lights change to amber, but was too close to slam my brakes on, so i sped up to get though, think i may have gone over the 30 limit, and the camera to my right flashed, i think it only flashed once, I thought i would be fine becuase it was not red and i was too close when it changed to amber to do anything about it

so could it be becuase i was speeding?

*Moangroan* · 18 May 2008 at 19:29

It was probably a red light camera....if you were partially throught the junction when it went on red regardless of it being amber past the white line you may have a ticket. I did the same did not want to slam the brakes and cause maybe an accident and went through on amber one fine and 3pts

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 19:32

so by the time i was at the line, it was red before i got there, so if i go through its wrong? if they give me a fine for that, then i cant see how thats fair, would they rather me brake so hard, skid and cause an accident?

West · 18 May 2008 at 19:33

All you can do is wait 14 agonising working days

Morba · 18 May 2008 at 19:34

i think camera lights only flash once (gatsos flash twice to work out the distance travelled between the 2 flashes).

Hilly · 18 May 2008 at 19:47

ShiWarrior said:
so by the time i was at the line, it was red before i got there, so if i go through its wrong? if they give me a fine for that, then i cant see how thats fair, would they rather me brake so hard, skid and cause an accident?

You travelled through a red light as you were going to fast to stop in time.

If you get done, take it like a man.

West · 18 May 2008 at 19:47

Well as regards the whole braking thing, they will make a descision on whether it was safe based on the point you passed the junction... and the timing you passed on Amber.

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 19:57

hilly said:
You travelled through a red light as you were going to fast to stop in time.

If you get done, take it like a man.

i was doing 30

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 19:57

West said:
Well as regards the whole braking thing, they will make a descision on whether it was safe based on the point you passed the junction... and the timing you passed on Amber.

ok, if thats true then i might get a letter, or i might not?

West · 18 May 2008 at 20:00

ShiWarrior said:
ok, if thats true then i might get a ltter, or i might not?

Indeed, if you havn't received anything by the 6th, I wouldn't worry.

theboyrob · 18 May 2008 at 20:07

Same happened to me in 2005, but it was in a 40 limit and there was a numpty in a cavalier up my arse, decided to go through as was a little dangerous to break at the amount needed to stop for the lights without the guy behind me ramming me.

Just my luck was a red light camera junction, 3 points and a £60 fine :rolleyes:

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 20:11

theboyrob said:
Same happened to me in 2005, but it was in a 40 limit and there was a numpty in a cavalier up my arse, decided to go through as was a little dangerous to break at the amount needed to stop for the lights without the guy behind me ramming me.

Just my luck was a red light camera junction, 3 points and a £60 fine

not fair at all

[TW]Fox · 18 May 2008 at 20:12

ShiWarrior said:
comming up to a set of Traffic lights in Northampton today, i saw the lights change to amber, but was too close to slam my brakes on, so i sped up to get though

What a load of rubbish. They are timed so that if it turns to amber and you are travelling at the speed limit, if you are not close enough to stop you'll get through. If you went through a red light you did it becuase you chose to jump an amber light and no other reason - amber doesn't mean drop a cog and floor it, it means stop.

Take your fine, becuase you deserve it. Unlike speeding traffic lights are there for a very key and sensible purpose. I've lost count of the number of accidents I've seen almost happen because of people like yourself.

[TW]Fox · 18 May 2008 at 20:13

West said:
Well as regards the whole braking thing, they will make a descision on whether it was safe based on the point you passed the junction... and the timing you passed on Amber.

No they wont - passing a traffic light on red is an absolute offence. They dont 'make a decision'. If the light was amber when you crossed the line, no fine. If it was red, fine. It's really THAT simple.

West · 18 May 2008 at 20:15

[TW]Fox;11710117 said:
No they wont - passing a traffic light on red is an absolute offence. They dont 'make a decision'. If the light was amber when you crossed the line, no fine. If it was red, fine. It's really THAT simple.

Yeh that's what I mean, if he passed on red then yes of course, but if he passed on amber then theres a chance that he won't get anything..

[TW]Fox · 18 May 2008 at 20:15

West said:
Yeh that's what I mean, if he passed on red then yes of course, but if he passed on amber then theres a chance that he won't get anything..

If he passed on amber there is a 100% chance he wont get anything becuase passing on amber isn't an offense!

pc-modd · 18 May 2008 at 20:21

[TW]Fox;11710140 said:
If he passed on amber there is a 100% chance he wont get anything becuase passing on amber isn't an offense!

He speaks the truth.

There was a police car about 5 cars behind me the other day when i went through on amber and a few people followed me through when it must have been red. He pulled them all.

ShiWarrior · 18 May 2008 at 20:25

ive read this :
http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/traffic-light-camera.htm

so i am assuming it was red when it "flashed"

Justintime · 18 May 2008 at 21:35

I think it gives a slight grace period after red as well? A second or less if i remember right, so i guess you went over on red mate. I think speed cameras are a dangerous and money making waste of time but red light cameras should be installed everywhere imo.

mejinks · 18 May 2008 at 22:28

There is one of those cameras on the big roundabout coming off the M4/A470 which, if you get it just right will continually flash and take multiple photos even when you are at the line. My record is 6.

Bad luck for you dude if you do get a ticket thuough. The cameras don't make a distinction, but you should always be prepared to stop when you go through traffic lights.