I keep driving through red lights............is that bad?
Discussion
On the face of it yes, but the circumstances are as follows...............
Near where I live there is a very straight road with just a couple of works entrances along it's (straight) length.
At the 30MPH end (the road is NSL on the straight bit) someone has dug a small hole, put a few cones round it, and set up a couple of temporary traffic lights, driven by a noisey little generator. The distance between the 2 trafic light stands can't be more than 20-30 feet. Now I'm aware that the device that controls this type of trafic light has a 'distance between lights' setting, to allow traffic to clear the roadworks before the other lights go to green. I expect that this has been set for perhaps 7 miles, instead of 30 feet, resulting in both lights being red for pretty much all the time.
You can see, with absolute certainty that there is absolutely nothing coming the other way, so traffic now seems to completely ignor them.
As do I.
Illegal? prob yes.
dangerous? you decide
Near where I live there is a very straight road with just a couple of works entrances along it's (straight) length.
At the 30MPH end (the road is NSL on the straight bit) someone has dug a small hole, put a few cones round it, and set up a couple of temporary traffic lights, driven by a noisey little generator. The distance between the 2 trafic light stands can't be more than 20-30 feet. Now I'm aware that the device that controls this type of trafic light has a 'distance between lights' setting, to allow traffic to clear the roadworks before the other lights go to green. I expect that this has been set for perhaps 7 miles, instead of 30 feet, resulting in both lights being red for pretty much all the time.
You can see, with absolute certainty that there is absolutely nothing coming the other way, so traffic now seems to completely ignor them.
As do I.
Illegal? prob yes.
dangerous? you decide
Not yet a serious suggestion, but...
How about gathering up the 'when red light shows wait here' signs and posting them back to the council with a suitable covering letter?
At least that would protect the sensible folk wishing to procede safely while the signs were absent (because it isn't legally a set of lights without the signs).
How about gathering up the 'when red light shows wait here' signs and posting them back to the council with a suitable covering letter?
At least that would protect the sensible folk wishing to procede safely while the signs were absent (because it isn't legally a set of lights without the signs).
safespeed said:
(because it isn't legally a set of lights without the signs)
AIUI if the signs or line is missing then a line through the light is to be taken as the stop line. I am not sure how this works with temp lights.
Might also be worth checking whether there is (and whether necessary) a Traffic Order for them.
7db said:
(because it isn't legally a set of lights without the signs)
AIUI if the signs or line is missing then a line through the light is to be taken as the stop line. I am not sure how this works with temp lights.
Might also be worth checking whether there is (and whether necessary) a Traffic Order for them.
No Traffic Regulation Order required for temporary lights (or indeed for permanent ones - TRO only required if banning turns etc)
You're right - they are legal with or without the sign - the sign is just an indicator of where to stop.
The light itself is a sign under TSRGD and therefore the same "red light jumping" penalties apply (temporary or permanent lights).
As another poster said - don't get caught.
Parrot of Doom said:
Why don't they just install a 'give priority' sign instead, it certainly sounds easier.
Could be a bit of an issue at busy times but I agree these lights are often left on when traffic could do without them. Anyone putting up one of these temporary nuisances should have to have an operator's licence which requires them to monitor traffic flow, and can be withdrawn if they obviously haven't (e.g. half mile queue in one direction, six car queue in the other).
This brings into discussion for me, the whole issue of traffic lights.
there really needs to be a new push on traffic lights. And I dont mean red light cameras.
There are several PERMENANT sets of lights by me that need reprogramming or what I would prefer - a flashing orange.
eg1 - T junction with filter lane to turn right off main road.
the road joining has a left turn only and two lights, green, and green turn right.
they come on together. Surely if the turn right lot are moving, the turn left lot can go without impact?
eg2
pelicans Vs pedestrian lights. I am trusted to see a pedestrian at a pelican, and judge to stop, and pull away once clear.
Why can't I be trusted to pull away from traffic light enabled pedestrian crossings when the pedestrian has clearly crossed already under green, and I can clearly see there is no one else about? Im afraid I do. If I can be trusetd at pelicans, I use the same road knowledge
the red light on these things last way beyond the requirement before ging orange flash.
There is talk of people sensors to stop false red lights, but that is overkill compared with common sense.
Also many left turn filter that could easily be give way, or even better
red for clear no go, and flashing orange for possible go instead of staying red?
more flashing orange!!
there really needs to be a new push on traffic lights. And I dont mean red light cameras.
There are several PERMENANT sets of lights by me that need reprogramming or what I would prefer - a flashing orange.
eg1 - T junction with filter lane to turn right off main road.
the road joining has a left turn only and two lights, green, and green turn right.
they come on together. Surely if the turn right lot are moving, the turn left lot can go without impact?
eg2
pelicans Vs pedestrian lights. I am trusted to see a pedestrian at a pelican, and judge to stop, and pull away once clear.
Why can't I be trusted to pull away from traffic light enabled pedestrian crossings when the pedestrian has clearly crossed already under green, and I can clearly see there is no one else about? Im afraid I do. If I can be trusetd at pelicans, I use the same road knowledge
the red light on these things last way beyond the requirement before ging orange flash.
There is talk of people sensors to stop false red lights, but that is overkill compared with common sense.
Also many left turn filter that could easily be give way, or even better
red for clear no go, and flashing orange for possible go instead of staying red?
more flashing orange!!
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