Traffic lights stuck on red.
Discussion
Is it completely wrong to pass a red light (with caution) if it appears to be stuck on red?
Sat for approx 5 mins at a junction to turn left with lights still on red. Visability was excellent, road was very quiet,dry, well lit, was late at night.
Had headlights on, indicating left checked all around me then slowly proceeded with caution until I could see out onto main road. Waited for one car to pass, no other cars after that on road then pulled out. Quite a long straight road and lights were still on green on main road (still red on side road) even as I lost sight of them in rear view mirror, so i'm sure they were stuck.
Sat for approx 5 mins at a junction to turn left with lights still on red. Visability was excellent, road was very quiet,dry, well lit, was late at night.
Had headlights on, indicating left checked all around me then slowly proceeded with caution until I could see out onto main road. Waited for one car to pass, no other cars after that on road then pulled out. Quite a long straight road and lights were still on green on main road (still red on side road) even as I lost sight of them in rear view mirror, so i'm sure they were stuck.
Portable signal heads operating in vehicle-actuated (VA) mode (preferred by the DfT) are fitted with microwave (muwave) detectors - the boxes mounted above (usually) the signal heads.
Note that vehicles approaching at speeds lower than 10mph between 5 to 40m upstream from the detector will not be detected, so don't approach at a low speed in the expectation that the signals will change as you get to them. [So approach at the speed limit and brake hard to a stop right on the 'line'.
]
To 'ensure' vehicles are not left waiting too long, the sequence controller has a 'nudge' function that forces a system cycle approximately every 2.5 minutes.
In VA mode, if there are no approaching vehicles, the signals will revert to red in both directions. The first vehicle to arrive will register a demand for the signals to change on that approach.
The detectors do not react to departing vehicles.
One of the problems with temporary traffic signals triggered by muwave, is that, if the muwave head is not properly aligned, an approaching vehicle will not trigger a change (even at higher than 10mph).
A 'fun' trick therefore is to turn the muwave heads at both ends of the controlled section so that they point back along the section. This way, the head triggers a change at one end when it sees a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction! Although there is a time delay, if there are numerous vehicles approaching, the opposing light can switch to the 'green' aspect while there is still traffic in the controlled section.
There are detectors that transmit fore and aft, using discrimination to determine whether it is safe to change the aspect of the signal.
Streaky
Note that vehicles approaching at speeds lower than 10mph between 5 to 40m upstream from the detector will not be detected, so don't approach at a low speed in the expectation that the signals will change as you get to them. [So approach at the speed limit and brake hard to a stop right on the 'line'.
]To 'ensure' vehicles are not left waiting too long, the sequence controller has a 'nudge' function that forces a system cycle approximately every 2.5 minutes.
In VA mode, if there are no approaching vehicles, the signals will revert to red in both directions. The first vehicle to arrive will register a demand for the signals to change on that approach.
The detectors do not react to departing vehicles.
One of the problems with temporary traffic signals triggered by muwave, is that, if the muwave head is not properly aligned, an approaching vehicle will not trigger a change (even at higher than 10mph).
A 'fun' trick therefore is to turn the muwave heads at both ends of the controlled section so that they point back along the section. This way, the head triggers a change at one end when it sees a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction! Although there is a time delay, if there are numerous vehicles approaching, the opposing light can switch to the 'green' aspect while there is still traffic in the controlled section.
There are detectors that transmit fore and aft, using discrimination to determine whether it is safe to change the aspect of the signal.
Streaky
The first set of traffic lights that I encounter when leaving my house are triggered by pressure sensors buried just below the road surface. The lights feed onto a main road, so my side is always red until a vehicle pulls up to turn onto the main road. This isnt normally a problem, as obviously my car is heavy enough to trigger them, but it becomes an issue when I go out on my motorbike, as it doesnt trigger them. I have to ride to the junction, nose forward and then pull out when I can... How much trouble am I likely to get into if I get caught?
TallPaul said:
The first set of traffic lights that I encounter when leaving my house are triggered by pressure sensors buried just below the road surface. The lights feed onto a main road, so my side is always red until a vehicle pulls up to turn onto the main road. This isnt normally a problem, as obviously my car is heavy enough to trigger them, but it becomes an issue when I go out on my motorbike, as it doesnt trigger them. I have to ride to the junction, nose forward and then pull out when I can... How much trouble am I likely to get into if I get caught?
Contact the Council and tell them that the inductive loops need retuning so they detect motorbikes. saaby93 said:
SS2. said:
3 points & £60 ?
If they're stuck on red and haven't registered his presence aren't they faulty?Anyway, if he was caught, offered a FPN and opted to take the matter to court, then he would almost certainly need to provide firm evidence that the lights were 'faulty' at the time of the alleged offence.
SS2. said:
Anyway, if he was caught, offered a FPN and opted to take the matter to court, then he would almost certainly need to provide firm evidence that the lights were 'faulty' at the time of the alleged offence.
what sort of evidence - they'll probably be fixed by the court date!Why would the FPN be issued if the lights were faulty?
Ah does it matter
Edited by saaby93 on Friday 2nd July 22:16
saaby93 said:
SS2. said:
Anyway, if he was caught, offered a FPN and opted to take the matter to court, then he would almost certainly need to provide firm evidence that the lights were 'faulty' at the time of the alleged offence.
what sort of evidence - they'll probably be fixed by the court date!Why would the FPN be issued if the lights were faulty?
Ah does it matter
streaky said:
Interesting stuff about temporary lights.
So what was happening in my recent experience.Stopped at a red roadworks temporary light, traffic was coming through in the other direction.
The stream of traffic stopped, there was a pause and one of those Kia Sedonas towing a caravan (bit of inconsequential detail) arrived at the the other end of the roadworks stopped and flashed his lights, presumably to say OK it's on red this end.
Glad I didn't move as then he set off again and about 4/5 vehicles came through.
Another vehicle approached from the other end before our end changed, slowed markedly, then sped up and came through the lights.
This reiterated several times with stuff approaching the lights at a speed that seemed to suggest lights were on green, slowed sharply and then set off again. Over about ten minutes in all.
Eventually after nothing had come the other way for about 3 minutes, which supports Steeaky's assertion of a cycle after 2.5 minutes our lights went to green.
But I was convinced the lights were faulty but dare not go through on red because any traffic was approaching quite quickly and from out of sight.
spaceship said:
Is it completely wrong to pass a red light (with caution) if it appears to be stuck on red?
Sat for approx 5 mins at a junction to turn left with lights still on red. Visability was excellent, road was very quiet,dry, well lit, was late at night.
Had headlights on, indicating left checked all around me then slowly proceeded with caution until I could see out onto main road. Waited for one car to pass, no other cars after that on road then pulled out. Quite a long straight road and lights were still on green on main road (still red on side road) even as I lost sight of them in rear view mirror, so i'm sure they were stuck.
Yes.Sat for approx 5 mins at a junction to turn left with lights still on red. Visability was excellent, road was very quiet,dry, well lit, was late at night.
Had headlights on, indicating left checked all around me then slowly proceeded with caution until I could see out onto main road. Waited for one car to pass, no other cars after that on road then pulled out. Quite a long straight road and lights were still on green on main road (still red on side road) even as I lost sight of them in rear view mirror, so i'm sure they were stuck.
You must stay there for as long as possible,then retrace your route /figure out another way to your destination.
tvrgit said:
TallPaul said:
The first set of traffic lights that I encounter when leaving my house are triggered by pressure sensors buried just below the road surface. The lights feed onto a main road, so my side is always red until a vehicle pulls up to turn onto the main road. This isnt normally a problem, as obviously my car is heavy enough to trigger them, but it becomes an issue when I go out on my motorbike, as it doesnt trigger them. I have to ride to the junction, nose forward and then pull out when I can... How much trouble am I likely to get into if I get caught?
Contact the Council and tell them that the inductive loops need retuning so they detect motorbikes. - Streakystreaky said:
tvrgit said:
TallPaul said:
The first set of traffic lights that I encounter when leaving my house are triggered by pressure sensors buried just below the road surface. The lights feed onto a main road, so my side is always red until a vehicle pulls up to turn onto the main road. This isnt normally a problem, as obviously my car is heavy enough to trigger them, but it becomes an issue when I go out on my motorbike, as it doesnt trigger them. I have to ride to the junction, nose forward and then pull out when I can... How much trouble am I likely to get into if I get caught?
Contact the Council and tell them that the inductive loops need retuning so they detect motorbikes. - StreakyEdited by tvrgit on Saturday 3rd July 07:56
F i F said:
The stream of traffic stopped, there was a pause and one of those Kia Sedonas towing a caravan (bit of inconsequential detail) arrived at the the other end of the roadworks stopped and flashed his lights, presumably to say OK it's on red this end.
He wasn't saying it's ok, it's clear, he thinks that the traffic lights react to headlights being flashed at them.A lot of people seem to think this is how they work?
They are a pain in the arse for bikes. I have in the past, put the stand down, and walked up to the bloody thing and waved my hand to trigger it.
Thy tend to see my truck quite well though
sometimes from hundreds of yards away!philthy said:
F i F said:
The stream of traffic stopped, there was a pause and one of those Kia Sedonas towing a caravan (bit of inconsequential detail) arrived at the the other end of the roadworks stopped and flashed his lights, presumably to say OK it's on red this end.
He wasn't saying it's ok, it's clear, he thinks that the traffic lights react to headlights being flashed at them.A lot of people seem to think this is how they work?
They are a pain in the arse for bikes. I have in the past, put the stand down, and walked up to the bloody thing and waved my hand to trigger it.
Thy tend to see my truck quite well though
sometimes from hundreds of yards away!
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