Weird traffic light at three-way junction

[alexy]

I am having trouble understanding this traffic light at this threeway junction.

See the exact photo in Google maps: Google Map View of the Junction

There are two lanes:

• Lane 1 (left): Go straight only
• Lane 2 (right): Go straight OR turn right.

The traffic lights adjacent to lanes 1 and 2 are not the same:

• Lane 1 (left): Has two traffic lights (one light near the crossing line and one further away): They have an additional green arrow to allow going straight only.
• Lane 2 (right): has two classic three-colour traffic lights -- again, one near the crossing line and another one further away.

The question is: When the green arrow (go straight only) on the left-hand lane (lane 1) becomes green, can the car waiting in the right-hand lane (lane 2) move off and cross the junction?

In other words, does the green arrow of one lane apply to the other lane that doesn't have the green arrow and is fully red?

Here is a more close-up view of the four lights: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.508...1vwmVI_A!2e0!5s20210801T000000!7i16384!8i8192

 

[alexy]

Something tells me there's a back story here.

Indeed, there is a back story.

Until October 2015, the right-hand lane (lane 2) was only for turning right. Therefore, the traffic light configuration made sense then: only lane 1 had a green arrow for going straight because lane 1 is the only lane where you are allowed to go straight at any time.
Google map historical snapshot: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.508...XKhb_2jQ!2e0!5s20151001T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Around 2018, turning right was banned and both lanes were dedicated for go straight only, but the lights weren't changed: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.508...1iRI6hwg!2e0!5s20180201T000000!7i16384!8i8192

And the current configuration is as I explained above: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.508...1vwmVI_A!2e0!5s20210801T000000!7i16384!8i8192

So we know that the light configuration is for historical reasons.

Still, is there a chance that I could be caught on a camera with a photo of my car crossing a seemingly red light in the photo (when actually there's been a green arrow light on another lane) -- leading to an FPN (?)
Or did I have the legal right to cross this junction from the right-hand lane and go straight in such situation?

 

[alexy]

Are you saying the left lane had a green light and the right a red, you were in the right lane but went anyway?

They look like all the lights should be in sync to me so all 4 red, green or amber etc

The traffic light was exactly like this photo: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.508...MU32iAiA!2e0!5s20120801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

(This photo is an old snapshot from 2012 and the markings on the ground have changed, but the status of the lights was exactly like in this photo when I crossed it.

I was in the right-hand lane (where the brown car is in the picture).

Was I legally allowed to cross and go straight from the right-hand lane?

 

[alexy]

Awkward, but that green arrow is actually for cyclists only. That red light (in the historical picture) is for all traffic to be stopped.

Or so the lycra brigade would have you believe...

In all seriousness, are you sure that turning right wasn't only blocked whilst the road works were in place? That would make more sense.

How do you recognize that the green arrow is for cyclists only?

 

[alexy]

Don't think I've ever seen that - areas around where I live it is like:

Google Maps

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Technically you shouldn't proceed past a red light regardless of what else the lights might be doing - but I'd imagine it is contestable.

You are referring to a location on Google Maps where the righthand lane is for turning right only, so the cars on the righthand lane should be turning right.

However, in the location I questioned, going straight is allowed from the righthand lane (though historically it hadn't been allowed, but now it is).

Doesn't that make any difference between these two cases?