Temporary traffic lights

[R8Steve]

Was just wondering if anyone knows the correct procedure here (if there is one). I was approaching a set of temporary traffic lights today where the red 'stop here when the red light shows' sign was approx 200 yards from the roadworks and the traffic lights. I passed the sign on green and approx 100 yards from the light it changes to red (manually by a construction worker who could see me). Should I have stopped or kept going? (I kept going to be clear followed by a barrage of abuse from said worker)

[R8Steve]

Was just wondering if anyone knows the correct procedure here (if there is one). I was approaching a set of temporary traffic lights today where the red 'stop here when the red light shows' sign was approx 200 yards from the roadworks and the traffic lights. I passed the sign on green and approx 100 yards from the light it changes to red (manually by a construction worker who could see me). Should I have stopped or kept going? (I kept going to be clear followed by a barrage of abuse from said worker)

[catman]

that makes little sense. Why was the sign so far from the roadworks/lights?

Tim

[Drumroll]

Always thought red light meant stop, not that it (red light) doesn't apply to me.

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast you seem to have left that detail out of your story.

[bingybongy]

Drumroll said:

Always thought red light meant stop, not that it (red light) doesn't apply to me.

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast you seem to have left that detail out of your story.

Oh what a helpful fellow you are.

[R8Steve]

catman said:

that makes little sense. Why was the sign so far from the roadworks/lights?

Tim

To you and me both, I don't know, that's why I was asking. It just increases the chance of being stuck in a catch 22 situation like I was. Either stop and block the road, continue against traffic that has now been released the other way or stop and reverse.

I wouldn't bother asking apart from the abuse from the workman makes me wonder if there is a 4th option that he knows and I don't.

[paintman]

catman said:

that makes little sense. Why was the sign so far from the roadworks/lights?

Tim

Doesn't make much sense to me either.
Stopping just short of the lights themselves would have been the best option in the circumstances.
No info as to what the traffic was like or if the other side of the roadworks & the other light(s) were visible or if the worker was playing silly buggers so perhaps a call to whoever the roadworks are on behalf of raising the point?

ETA When the light changed it sounds as if you were still 100 yards from the roadworks & the traffic light which would suggest you could have stopped & not caused problems for any oncoming traffic?

Edited by paintman on Wednesday 17th June 17:12

[R8Steve]

Drumroll said:

Always thought red light meant stop, not that it (red light) doesn't apply to me.

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast you seem to have left that detail out of your story.

Where did I say I don't think red lights don't apply to me? I can expect a ban then going that fast on the average speed camera'd A9 that I couldn't stop in 200 yards. Read what I wrote again before you post any more judgemental drivel please

[maccboy]

Drumroll said:

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast . . .

I don't see how fasting has anything to do with it . . .

[R8Steve]

paintman said:

catman said:

that makes little sense. Why was the sign so far from the roadworks/lights?

Tim

Doesn't make much sense to me either.
Stopping just short of the lights themselves would have been the best option in the circumstances.
No info as to what the traffic was like or if the other side of the roadworks & the other light(s) were visible or if the worker was playing silly buggers so perhaps a call to whoever the roadworks are on behalf of raising the point?

ETA When the light changed it sounds as if you were still 100 yards from the roadworks & the traffic light which would suggest you could have stopped & not caused problems for any oncoming traffic?

Edited by paintman on Wednesday 17th June 17:12

The road had already began to narrow with cones by the time the red light was turned on so stopping wasn't really an option. I suppose my belief at the time was as I had passed the stop here sign it was the equivalent of going on an Amber and I should continue if safe and the person behind should stop. The workmans reaction tells me otherwise but stopping at that point would have just caused more problems. The sign should be at the traffic lights to avoid any confusion, had that been the case I would have been able to stop in plenty of time.

[anonymous-user]

IANAL, and nor do I wear a whit hat, but my best guess is that the When Red Light Shows sign is the temporary equivalent of the solid white stop line at normal lights.
Given the intellect of the average Tarmac technician, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the one you experienced was set up all wrong,

[MattHall91]

Sign must have been moved and worker didn't notice. Should be much closer to the lights.

[V8forweekends]

maccboy said:

Drumroll said:

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast . . .

I don't see how fasting has anything to do with it . . .

I think it's Ramadan.

[ging84]

Drumroll said:

Always thought red light meant stop, not that it (red light) doesn't apply to me.

Maybe the reason you couldn't stop is you were going to fast you seem to have left that detail out of your story.

So when you are past the stop line on green, but then they change and you can still see the set of lights at the end of the junction go to red you jam on the anchors blocking the whole junction for everyone?
Only a bellend would do that, and although there is no stop line for temporary lights, nor multi sets of lights, the effect of stopping once you've past the stopping point would be more or less the same.

[flemke]

"Stop Here on Red" sign must be equivalent to a stop line for a permanent set of lights, don't you think?
Just as with the stop line, if you were genuinely past the "Stop Here" sign whilst the light was still green, the fact that the light subsequently turned red should be of no concern.
Not your fault if the road crew put the sign or the light in the wrong place.
As for the moron who gave you the abuse, there is probably a reason why his "job" is to watch cars drive past him all day.

[flemke]

Crossflow Kid said:

IANAL, and nor do I wear a whit hat, but my best guess is that the When Red Light Shows sign is the temporary equivalent of the solid white stop line at normal lights.
Given the intellect of the average Tarmac technician, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the one you experienced was set up all wrong,

Would that be the average Tarmac Installation Technician?

[MoggieMinor]

Its rare to see temp lights set up correctly anyway. It also amazes me how many drivers on seeing the light turn to green will start moving even though there is still traffic heading towards them through the section because the light timing is all wrong!

[micky g]

The 'stop here' sign should be approx 15m from the start of the cone taper, this can be lengthened to take account of long vehicles but in no case would it be anywhere near 100m. The taper of cones should be set at around 40 degrees, so again, under no circumstances would the taper be anything like 100m.

Either the roadworks were very, very badly set out and should be reported, or your guestimate's of distance are suspect

[Drumroll]

Several years ago I had to cover for a technician who had been killed in roadworks, so forgive me if I look at this from a different viewpoint than you.

[williamp]

Aparently flashing your lights at the man helps to change the signal to green