Filtering at traffic lights
Discussion
Got stopped by the BIB the other day for filtering at traffic lights (just given a ticking off) and just wanted to know what was okay and what was not.
I approached traffic light controlled cross roads with lights on red and various cars stationary (or coming to a halt) indicating right - the road is a wide one lane until just before the lights when it goes to two lanes - no oncoming traffic so I filtered on the outside of these cars to the front of the lights, came to a halt and then once green I turned right having indicated right.
I suspect I have done this many times before over the last 30 years and always thought it was okay. I was told that I should not overtake any cars when they are indicating right (which I of course agree with) but thought it was okay when they cannot turn due to the red traffic lights.
Thoughts/advice/comments/abuse ?
I approached traffic light controlled cross roads with lights on red and various cars stationary (or coming to a halt) indicating right - the road is a wide one lane until just before the lights when it goes to two lanes - no oncoming traffic so I filtered on the outside of these cars to the front of the lights, came to a halt and then once green I turned right having indicated right.
I suspect I have done this many times before over the last 30 years and always thought it was okay. I was told that I should not overtake any cars when they are indicating right (which I of course agree with) but thought it was okay when they cannot turn due to the red traffic lights.
Thoughts/advice/comments/abuse ?
Sounds like the copper was bored and being a bit pedantic. Obviously it's a risk going past cars indicating right but it's your call at that exact moment in my view.
The Rospa and IAM tend to err on the side of caution in these circumstances but as ever it's up to you to make the judgement as to whether it's safe.
The Rospa and IAM tend to err on the side of caution in these circumstances but as ever it's up to you to make the judgement as to whether it's safe.
Usual advice ive had from RosPA instructor is to filter up to the offside rear of the lead car, wait for him to move off first. Particularly if there is no natural space in the junction in front of lead car for you to get past the lead vehicle and wait safely without causing obstruction to long vehicles turning into the junction.
Inside zig zags on zebra crossings is similar advice, and then if traffic remains stationary when lights go green you can overtake the lead vehicle, otherwise sit tight to rear offside of lead vehicle and wait.
Inside zig zags on zebra crossings is similar advice, and then if traffic remains stationary when lights go green you can overtake the lead vehicle, otherwise sit tight to rear offside of lead vehicle and wait.
t.I got pulled over last year because I weaved my way to the front of the queue and placed myself over the white line in front of the first car in the queue for the lights.
In fairness he was OK, he just gave me a gentle lecture, then told me how much he liked my old Fireblade and let me go.
In fairness he was OK, he just gave me a gentle lecture, then told me how much he liked my old Fireblade and let me go.
creampuff said:
OverSteery said:
Did you cross the line at the front whilst the light was red?
I was wondering this too. Crossing the stop line is a no no. And 3 points if you get a particularly grumpy copper. I was once filtering up the outside of traffic on a road with 2 straight on and 1 right turn lane ( red light, no oncoming traffic, whole junction on pedestrian phase).
If the omens are good, I usually wait just in front of any vehicle going right, and then nip out of everyone's way going straight on.
This time however, just as I was starting to pass a van at the front, the driver decided to jump the light and was off across in front of me!
I don't think he even considered that anyone might have been there, but it was a one off fluke in over 8 years of daily commuting.
I think the op was unlucky to encounter a bored plod: on the A23 dozens of biks will filter past oncoming police cars over the dotted lines, and not even an eyelid is batted.
Ian
If the omens are good, I usually wait just in front of any vehicle going right, and then nip out of everyone's way going straight on.
This time however, just as I was starting to pass a van at the front, the driver decided to jump the light and was off across in front of me!
I don't think he even considered that anyone might have been there, but it was a one off fluke in over 8 years of daily commuting.
I think the op was unlucky to encounter a bored plod: on the A23 dozens of biks will filter past oncoming police cars over the dotted lines, and not even an eyelid is batted.
Ian
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