49 replies to this topic

[SwannyUK]

Glad i read this

I didnt know there were cameras on the lights lol

Most people around here are amber gamblers

[Kinjo]

Glad i read this

I didnt know there were cameras on the lights lol

Most people around here are amber gamblers

There aren't cameras on all lights, you can spot the 'red light cameras' they look like small gatzo's, well they do around here - but im sure there are other sorts.

[Ethel]

3 points, £60 fixed penalty as everyone says,

Two possible defences:

The lights were of the wrong specification in some way - road markings, amber interval...

You had to drive through them to avoid an accident, in an emergency - risky as you could be providing evidence for another offence.

You can't be knicked for speeding, as they don't provide admissible evidence: 2 snapshots of your car & some graduated paint markings.

Edited by Ethel, 18 July 2008 - 04:01 PM.

[Mini Man Dan]

i was told when i took my test that if it was dangerous to stop when the lights are amber but you are to close to to stop safely. so in theory you would then run a red light.

You should slow down as you approach them if they are on green, anticipating them turning to red.

[mini_turbo_pete]

you could give it a go at appealing against it, just state that the person behind you was driving too close to you for the weather conditions and would have caused an accident if you were to have braked to stop in time.

[GoonerMini]

you could give it a go at appealing against it, just state that the person behind you was driving too close to you for the weather conditions and would have caused an accident if you were to have braked to stop in time.

Didn't work for Dave

[Rhyd]

You should slow down as you approach them if they are on green, anticipating them turning to red.

Especially if they've been green for a while. Never trust traffic lights >

[biggav]

you could give it a go at appealing against it, just state that the person behind you was driving too close to you for the weather conditions and would have caused an accident if you were to have braked to stop in time.

Didn't work for Dave

Highway code advice if someone is tailing you too close is to reduce your speed and increase the distance between you and the vehicle infront to maximise your visibility and reduce the risk of you suddenly having to stop... there is no excuse for running a red light.

[XxsarahxX]

the thing i do is if you are coming up to the light and its on green then you know its likely to turn red so you slow down, so you'll be able to stop if it does and i usually stop when it goes to amber aswell better than risking it

[Ru55boy]

The 14 day rule relates to traffic offences, speeding and traffic lights included.

Traffic light cameras DO measure speed. You won't get done for speeding if you go through one too fast, BUT, if you are way too fast going through a red light then you'll get done for Dangerous Driving instead of just Contravening a Red Light.

The Highway Code says Amber means Stop... if its safe to do so, Red means definitely absolutely stop. Thus negating any excuse for not being able to stop in time. As correctly said before, if a traffic light is green, its only ever going to change to amber and then red, so it shouldn't take you by surprise - one very useful thing point taught by the IAM, and Police driving instructors.

[Dan]

And the amber duration is set differently for each signal depending on the speed limit of the road and the visibility of the signals as you approach so you can't say it wasn't amber long enough either.

Traffic light cameras DO measure speed.

Absolutely, I meant there is no radar in them so they don't react to your speed. Sorry about that. They only react to crossing the stop line and they measure your speed accross the line. As Ethel says above there isn't enough evidence provided by the camera to make an automated prosecution for speeding. Rules of evidence require an automated system to provide two seperate and independant forms of evidence of an offence. Speed cameras use the radar as one form and the pair of photos of your car on the measured distance grid during a known period of time as the second. Signal cameras use the road surface sensors as the first and the photo as the second. This is very different from the rules for a person to be able to prosecute obviously.

traffic light cameras are the scorn of satan!!!

I completely disagree with that. Running a red light is far more dangerous in almost every case than speeding. Speeding is dangerous in many cases but we all know of cameras that have been installed in locations that seem ludicrous. Traffic signals are almost always installed at junctions where they are needed either for traffic flow or road visibility. People drive through a green light without checking the junction, they shouldn't have to check that nobody is running the light before driving off. Running a red light is always dangerous and these are one camera that I fully support the use of, along with speed cameras outside schools and shopping centres. Speed cameras on motorways however...

[sazal]

traffic light cameras are the scorn of satan!!!

I completely disagree with that. Running a red light is far more dangerous in almost every case than speeding. Speeding is dangerous in many cases but we all know of cameras that have been installed in locations that seem ludicrous. Traffic signals are almost always installed at junctions where they are needed either for traffic flow or road visibility. People drive through a green light without checking the junction, they shouldn't have to check that nobody is running the light before driving off. Running a red light is always dangerous and these are one camera that I fully support the use of, along with speed cameras outside schools and shopping centres. Speed cameras on motorways however...

Agreed.

[Joloke08]

traffic light cameras are the scorn of satan!!!

I completely disagree with that. Running a red light is far more dangerous in almost every case than speeding. Speeding is dangerous in many cases but we all know of cameras that have been installed in locations that seem ludicrous. Traffic signals are almost always installed at junctions where they are needed either for traffic flow or road visibility. People drive through a green light without checking the junction, they shouldn't have to check that nobody is running the light before driving off. Running a red light is always dangerous and these are one camera that I fully support the use of, along with speed cameras outside schools and shopping centres. Speed cameras on motorways however...

Just wanted to point out im not condoning running a red light,what i meant is if your speeding fair doo,s you cant argue but whereas if it changes to amber just as your going over you gotta keep going right?

Thing is everybody thesedays is ruled by cameras and are more likely to brake rapidly when its changing because of fear of a fine and points.

where i now live its tailgating capital of the country methinks? the police here are useless and seem to condone tailgating because didly squats ever done about it:(

before cameras you used your common sence if it was dangerous to stop(because of some prat riding your bumper) but you could safely clear the junction without causing danger to anybody else the police would use common sence,whereas now cameras flash you indisciminately because they dont tell the full story.

Taffic light cameras are dangerous because not everybody stick to the law unfortunately and while theres tailgators mixed with traffic light cameras there will continue to be accidents.

Another favourite around here is site traffic lights on the immeadiate exit of a roundabout so you get a gap to get onto the roundabout go for it get tailgated then are confronted with a red light you cant see until you right on top of it and an idiot about to kill you behind:(

after that you clear a crossing to be confronted by a bus stop followed by another roundabout with lights!!!! Grrrrrrrr

Methinks the town planners here have been smoking something that they shouldnt?

I have a clean licence,dont speed and the only ticket ive ever had was because my car park ticket fell off my window on a baking hot day

it was quoshed though

So no im not condoning running a red light,i just think cameras havnt made the roads safer

Huggz
Jodie

[sazal]

traffic light cameras are the scorn of satan!!!

I completely disagree with that. Running a red light is far more dangerous in almost every case than speeding. Speeding is dangerous in many cases but we all know of cameras that have been installed in locations that seem ludicrous. Traffic signals are almost always installed at junctions where they are needed either for traffic flow or road visibility. People drive through a green light without checking the junction, they shouldn't have to check that nobody is running the light before driving off. Running a red light is always dangerous and these are one camera that I fully support the use of, along with speed cameras outside schools and shopping centres. Speed cameras on motorways however...

Just wanted to point out im not condoning running a red light,what i meant is if your speeding fair doo,s you cant argue but whereas if it changes to amber just as your going over you gotta keep going right?

Thing is everybody thesedays is ruled by cameras and are more likely to brake rapidly when its changing because of fear of a fine and points.

where i now live its tailgating capital of the country methinks? the police here are useless and seem to condone tailgating because didly squats ever done about it:(

before cameras you used your common sence if it was dangerous to stop(because of some prat riding your bumper) but you could safely clear the junction without causing danger to anybody else the police would use common sence,whereas now cameras flash you indisciminately because they dont tell the full story.

Taffic light cameras are dangerous because not everybody stick to the law unfortunately and while theres tailgators mixed with traffic light cameras there will continue to be accidents.

Another favourite around here is site traffic lights on the immeadiate exit of a roundabout so you get a gap to get onto the roundabout go for it get tailgated then are confronted with a red light you cant see until you right on top of it and an idiot about to kill you behind:(

after that you clear a crossing to be confronted by a bus stop followed by another roundabout with lights!!!! Grrrrrrrr

Methinks the town planners here have been smoking something that they shouldnt?

I have a clean licence,dont speed and the only ticket ive ever had was because my car park ticket fell off my window on a baking hot day

it was quoshed though

So no im not condoning running a red light,i just think cameras havnt made the roads safer

Huggz
Jodie

Its the same round here too, I think the council have a thing at the minute with putting pedestrian crossings straight after roundabouts...

[Dan]

Traffic signal cameas don't start snapping until about 1 second after the signal turns red specifically because of that possibility. There is no excuse for running a red light. If someone behind you doesn't react in time or is too close that's their fault and they will pay for it. You can't legislate for what's going on behind you, all you can do is make sure that it isn't you who ploughs across the junction gainst the red light and drives into the side of a minibus or a bike or gets T-boned by a truck.