pedestrian crossing lights

[me2]

We have a pedestrian crossing near us very little used many times you can drive up to it on red and no one in sight the timing is so long.
Question is if there is obviously nobody using a crossing is it OK to proceed.

[Eliminator]

No

3 points and a lighter wallet. Passing through a RED is an offence.

Question - how did the light turn Red if no-one is around?

[turbobloke]

Eliminator said:

No 3 points and a lighter wallet. Passing through a RED is an offence. Question - how did the light turn Red if no-one is around?

I'd guess, pedestrian presses button, sees road clear, crosses, 30 seconds later when walker has long gone, lights turn red and stay red for ages in order to inconvenience traffic long after the entire population of a large primary school has crossed.

It's called 'gating' and local authorities employ car haters to do stuff like this. Alternative version for playing "I Spy Lefty Traffic Mismanagers" involves lights with road sensors that are kept on timings through the night, just to make you wait when there's nothing ever ever making use of the long green phase for traffic crossing your path.

[CombeMarshal]

They used to sitck the buttons in on the Cheltenham inner ring road on Saturday nights so the boy racers could try racing each other in there pimped Novas and Clios!

[Pigeon]

turbobloke said:

Eliminator said: No 3 points and a lighter wallet. Passing through a RED is an offence. Question - how did the light turn Red if no-one is around? I'd guess, pedestrian presses button, sees road clear, crosses, 30 seconds later when walker has long gone, lights turn red and stay red for ages in order to inconvenience traffic long after the entire population of a large primary school has crossed. It's called 'gating' and local authorities employ car haters to do stuff like this. Alternative version for playing "I Spy Lefty Traffic Mismanagers" involves lights with road sensors that are kept on timings through the night, just to make you wait when there's nothing ever ever making use of the long green phase for traffic crossing your path.

I used to live next to a crossing that used to stop the traffic of its own accord without anyone pressing the button, and seemed to have a mission to stop as many lorries as possible throughout the night. It's a good job I'm a heavy sleeper because there was a constant repetition of "PSSSSCCCCHHHHH rattle bang clash rumble rumble rumble... RRRRRRRREV bang clash RRRRRRRRREV..." going on outside all night.

[bigdods]

Next time stop and take a look at the button on the crossing - its pretty common round here for the hoodies to stick the buttons in with gum....