Soldato
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When you see a big yellow red-light camera by the traffic lights it makes sense to slow down......
oops, went through a red light, now being done :(
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Soldato
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They're grey.
Speaking from experience here, the NIP should state how many seconds had passed from when you went through the red.
If its only a few then its 3 points and £60 fine otherwise anything more and you will have to go to court. In my case I was 25sec into the red (3am and raining heavily, got confused with the second set of lights ahead of me). I pleaded guilty, blamed the weather (I was doing 25mph in a 40mph zone when caught on camera) and got 3 points and a £300 fine. great.
Still, that was a few years ago... clean licence now
If its only a few then its 3 points and £60 fine otherwise anything more and you will have to go to court. In my case I was 25sec into the red (3am and raining heavily, got confused with the second set of lights ahead of me). I pleaded guilty, blamed the weather (I was doing 25mph in a 40mph zone when caught on camera) and got 3 points and a £300 fine. great.
Still, that was a few years ago... clean licence now
Soldato
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[TW]Fox;12607443 said:
I disagree, i've noticed (in my parts anyhow) a lot of red light camera junctions etc.. change to red within 2 seconds from amber, in NSL and 50 roads. I've watched this from the POV of a ped and at a standstill in traffic. I've also seen the camera go off as soon as it hit red, always thought it was 0.8 seconds after.. the non-camered junctions seem to take about 3 seconds
I always slow down at lights and have never had points ever but i can see how it can happen.But the problem was that there was a massive 7tonne truck behind me that was going at a fair speed (this is traffic lights on a 50mph road) so there was no way I could slam my brakes in time else he would have gone into the back of me - but the police didnt seem to care about that
I assume the truck did manage to stop for the lights though?!
Man of Honour
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I've been driving for 33 years and I reckon if I was followed every day I would be banned every day because of my speed and perhaps some of the lane jumping I do.
I know I'm a very lucky boy but I have never gone through lights on red and I've drove all over the country.
Its so easy not to do - you drive up a road and if the lights are on green you know they could be changing to amber soon.
If you're very close to the lights and they change to amber you go through.
If you're not that close and they change to amber then you don't.
Traffic lights aren't there to play games with especially when they hit red.
Yesterday I had a really close one.
We have a large roundabout at the end of the A50 near the Britannia Stadium.
I'm coming from the Hanford side and waiting at the traffic lights.
They turn to green, I take off and 2 cars fly in front of me that have obviously gone through on red and are racing each other (it happens all the time there).
My other favourite is those drivers that are waiting and watch the other traffic lights, see them go red and while ours are still on red they go through.
I know I'm a very lucky boy but I have never gone through lights on red and I've drove all over the country.
Its so easy not to do - you drive up a road and if the lights are on green you know they could be changing to amber soon.
If you're very close to the lights and they change to amber you go through.
If you're not that close and they change to amber then you don't.
Traffic lights aren't there to play games with especially when they hit red.
Yesterday I had a really close one.
We have a large roundabout at the end of the A50 near the Britannia Stadium.
I'm coming from the Hanford side and waiting at the traffic lights.
They turn to green, I take off and 2 cars fly in front of me that have obviously gone through on red and are racing each other (it happens all the time there).
My other favourite is those drivers that are waiting and watch the other traffic lights, see them go red and while ours are still on red they go through.
Associate
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Since the OP's question was answered long ago, it's probably OK to go a little OT.
2 Comments:
My driving instructor was quite clear on this one. When you see the light go to amber, don't ask "can I get through?", but instead ask "can I safely stop?".
"I had someone on my tail" just might work as a defence if you can get 'the system' to confirm that another vehicle also followed you through (and obviously was also 'caught'). This information could be available, but the authorities may not be willing to go to the bother of getting it.
However, when I got 'rear-ended' at a set of lights, there was already a stationary car alongside me, I hadn't 'screeched to a stop', and guess what the other driver (who caused a lot of damage) said? "I didn't think you would have stopped"
Well, doh..... The traffic light changed, and I was stationary, with my handbrake on, and the light at red when he hit me.
2 Comments:
My driving instructor was quite clear on this one. When you see the light go to amber, don't ask "can I get through?", but instead ask "can I safely stop?".
"I had someone on my tail" just might work as a defence if you can get 'the system' to confirm that another vehicle also followed you through (and obviously was also 'caught'). This information could be available, but the authorities may not be willing to go to the bother of getting it.
However, when I got 'rear-ended' at a set of lights, there was already a stationary car alongside me, I hadn't 'screeched to a stop', and guess what the other driver (who caused a lot of damage) said? "I didn't think you would have stopped"
Well, doh..... The traffic light changed, and I was stationary, with my handbrake on, and the light at red when he hit me.
I disagree, i've noticed (in my parts anyhow) a lot of red light camera junctions etc.. change to red within 2 seconds from amber, in NSL and 50 roads. I've watched this from the POV of a ped and at a standstill in traffic. I've also seen the camera go off as soon as it hit red, always thought it was 0.8 seconds after.. the non-camered junctions seem to take about 3 seconds
What are you saying, nobody sets the timing of the lights? They're random then?
Associate
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See this so often at a similar junction (Whitletts Roundabout) on the A77 Ayr by-pass. Vehicles will often come through from the right even when your light has gone green.
Is it just me, or is this 'red light jumping' getting worse?
Are we as a society becoming less disposed to obeying laws?
Sure looks like it to me sometimes.
Man of Honour
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What are green lights going to do? Change. Always assume they are about to change, and as such when approaching lights or a junction, slow down accordingly.
Soldato
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Out of interest, where are the cameras placed to catch red light jumping? On top of the lights themselves?
Soldato
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Did i say anything about randomness? I've just noted those with redlight cameras seem to change quicker than those without, almost like they 'want' people to go over on red. The thing about the varying durations according to speed limit dosen't wash with me either, seems whomever is setting it up dosen't take that into consideration. Not on the roads i travel anyhow.
Round here they are placed about 5m's behind the actual traffic lights and look similar to a gatso, just slightly thinner. I'd imagine they do this so the photo clearly shows the light at red and you driving through it.
There may be slightly different setups across the country though.
I would imagine that the better advice is...'if the lights were to change right now, would I be able to stop safely?'
If the answer is 'no', then you are obviously so close to the lights that you will be able to pass through long before they change to red (unless you're driving too quickly for the road conditions).
I can't see that ever being considered as valid excuse. Mainly because the law will almost certainly take the view that you should adjust your own speed in accordance with the gap between you and the other vehicle, whether they be in front or behind you. If being tailgated then I'm fairly sure the highway code would recommend that you slowly reduce your own speed to ensure there is a safe gap for both vehicles to stop.
Having to adjust your own driving to accomodate some idiot behind you is frustrating, but I'm fairly sure that the police would tell you that this is what you should have done, rather than backup any excuse for jumping the red light.
I got caught going threw a red light, no excuses i just wasnt paying attention at 2am in the morning.
Went down to the police station (obviously you have to take your driving licence down) including the paper part, but i couldn't find the paper part anywhere, and with knowing how slow the DVLA is i knew i wouldn't recive it in time so at the police station i told them i had lost it and requested a new one.
They said it was classed as "Failure to produce" and i would be summoned to court (but it would all be handeld over phone etc. (Oh and i had already paid the £60 fine)
A few weeks went by with nothing in the post or anything, and then i recived a letter refunding my £60 fine saying i had failed to surrender my license and would hear from the police shortly
That was about 3 months ago now, still havent heard a thing.. Crazy stuff
Went down to the police station (obviously you have to take your driving licence down) including the paper part, but i couldn't find the paper part anywhere, and with knowing how slow the DVLA is i knew i wouldn't recive it in time so at the police station i told them i had lost it and requested a new one.
They said it was classed as "Failure to produce" and i would be summoned to court (but it would all be handeld over phone etc. (Oh and i had already paid the £60 fine)
A few weeks went by with nothing in the post or anything, and then i recived a letter refunding my £60 fine saying i had failed to surrender my license and would hear from the police shortly
That was about 3 months ago now, still havent heard a thing.. Crazy stuff
should slow down when you see lights tbh
red lights are usually there at dangerous crossings. if you cant stop in time for a red then you wont be able to stop in time if a child runs out or if a car driver with same mentality as you goes to cross
got to anticipate the hazards
red lights are usually there at dangerous crossings. if you cant stop in time for a red then you wont be able to stop in time if a child runs out or if a car driver with same mentality as you goes to cross
got to anticipate the hazards
I got caught going threw a red light, no excuses i just wasnt paying attention at 2am in the morning.
Went down to the police station (obviously you have to take your driving licence down) including the paper part, but i couldn't find the paper part anywhere, and with knowing how slow the DVLA is i knew i wouldn't recive it in time so at the police station i told them i had lost it and requested a new one.
They said it was classed as "Failure to produce" and i would be summoned to court (but it would all be handeld over phone etc. (Oh and i had already paid the £60 fine)
A few weeks went by with nothing in the post or anything, and then i recived a letter refunding my £60 fine saying i had failed to surrender my license and would hear from the police shortly
That was about 3 months ago now, still havent heard a thing.. Crazy stuff
Awaits the inevitable 'Help I've got to go to court' thread.
Traffic lights are monitored and maintained by local councils and their timings set according to the prevailing speed limits and traffic requirements. This is a fact, unlike when you watch a traffic light for a bit. That makes an opinion.
