Pulling through a broken red light
Discussion
Looking for a bit of advice/reassurance.
Today I came to a set of red lights. The pedestrian crossings were all taped up (like roadworks were taking place), but the lights were not temporary lights.
I waited for around 5mins at the lights, with traffic building up behind me (I was first at the lights). To me, it seemed like an exceptionally long time, given the size of the junction.
Eventually, I reached the conclusion that the lights were likely defective and edged out into the junction when it was safe to do so. That said, I spent the rest of the journey wracked with guilt and dread that somehow I would be fined.
What are you supposed to do in this situation? Wait forever?
Today I came to a set of red lights. The pedestrian crossings were all taped up (like roadworks were taking place), but the lights were not temporary lights.
I waited for around 5mins at the lights, with traffic building up behind me (I was first at the lights). To me, it seemed like an exceptionally long time, given the size of the junction.
Eventually, I reached the conclusion that the lights were likely defective and edged out into the junction when it was safe to do so. That said, I spent the rest of the journey wracked with guilt and dread that somehow I would be fined.
What are you supposed to do in this situation? Wait forever?
I won't worry about too much long as there are as no cameras.
If there was a camera I would have turn around as I rather go a longer route then waste time having to explaining myself if a fine came through plus they not know light was broken so it be annoying having to prove it.
If there was a camera I would have turn around as I rather go a longer route then waste time having to explaining myself if a fine came through plus they not know light was broken so it be annoying having to prove it.
Edited by Yodafone on Sunday 27th March 21:49
Wracked with guilt? Why, no harm done!
To leave a previous house i used to have to drive through a set of lights that would stay red until someone came the other way.
That was ok during the day but if i was out early or late you could be there for ages. I must have carefully driven through that red light hundreds of times over the years i lived there. Reported it to the council a few times but nothing ever happened.
Don't worry about it.
To leave a previous house i used to have to drive through a set of lights that would stay red until someone came the other way.
That was ok during the day but if i was out early or late you could be there for ages. I must have carefully driven through that red light hundreds of times over the years i lived there. Reported it to the council a few times but nothing ever happened.
Don't worry about it.
Esotericstuff said:
Eventually, I reached the conclusion that the lights were likely defective and edged out into the junction when it was safe to do so. That said, I spent the rest of the journey wracked with guilt and dread that somehow I would be fined.
What are you supposed to do in this situation? Wait forever?
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.What are you supposed to do in this situation? Wait forever?
Alternatively you could turn around and find another route. Whether you are willing to do this or risk breaking the law is entirely your choice. If an accident occurred due to you crossing a red light, I suggest you will held liable and subject to prosecution.
But in the meantime, you got away with it
bigothunter said:
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
Alternatively you could turn around and find another route. Whether you are willing to do this or risk breaking the law is entirely your choice. If an accident occurred due to you crossing a red light, I suggest you will held liable and subject to prosecution.
But in the meantime, you got away with it
I know that's the standard advice, but I can think of several sets of traffic lights where it's simply not possible without reversing hundreds of meters, then onto a roundabout, due to fences on the central reservation. And more still where turning around would mean driving the wrong way up a motorway.Alternatively you could turn around and find another route. Whether you are willing to do this or risk breaking the law is entirely your choice. If an accident occurred due to you crossing a red light, I suggest you will held liable and subject to prosecution.
But in the meantime, you got away with it
Not everyone has a phone to call the police and ask to be escorted through the broken light, so you would end up jammed.
Seems like the law has not kept up with road design!
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
The OP has given a reasonable explanation of why he followed HWC rule 176
If they were working as intended would be then have to be shown ie investigation by a policeman/council watching the lights over a say 20 min period and time the gaps and check what they were programmed to do.
donkmeister said:
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
He told me after I did exactly the right thing and I'd have failed my test had I sat there like a lemon doing nothing.
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
bigothunter said:
donkmeister said:
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
There's also plenty of traffic lights where turning around isn't a legal or sensible option.
Griffith4ever said:
Absolutely, and it happened on my motorbike test. 1st set of lights and had to turn right, but the right green arrow was broken, so I never got a green light to go (not an amber - it was just agreen arrow for right, and all three colours for straight ahead). I waited for the lights to cycle once, watching the traffic, then on the second cycle I "observed like hell" and carefully turned right and carried on. Examiner behind me.
He told me after I did exactly the right thing and I'd have failed my test had I sat there like a lemon doing nothing.
Absolutely fine because you did not turn across a red light He told me after I did exactly the right thing and I'd have failed my test had I sat there like a lemon doing nothing.
Griffith4ever said:
bigothunter said:
donteatpeople said:
bigothunter said:
The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
That's not what the Highway Code says. Rule 176 said:
You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.
Failing to comply with traffic light signals is known as a code TS10 driving offence. The Highway Code requires all drivers to stop behind the white line when the red light is illuminated.
bigothunter previously said:
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
Alternatively you could turn around and find another route. Whether you are willing to do this or risk breaking the law is entirely your choice. If an accident occurred due to you crossing a red light, I suggest you will held liable and subject to prosecution.
But in the meantime, you got away with it
Actually I would be naughty and chance crossing the stuck red traffic light. But if an accident occurred due to my law breaking, I would expect to be prosecuted.Alternatively you could turn around and find another route. Whether you are willing to do this or risk breaking the law is entirely your choice. If an accident occurred due to you crossing a red light, I suggest you will held liable and subject to prosecution.
But in the meantime, you got away with it
Naive to believe otherwise...
bigothunter said:
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
I think we are all happy that you are incorrect here, but I wonder if you have any reference that suports the course of action you suggest?Griffith4ever said:
Absolutely, and it happened on my motorbike test. 1st set of lights and had to turn right, but the right green arrow was broken, so I never got a green light to go (not an amber - it was just agreen arrow for right, and all three colours for straight ahead). I waited for the lights to cycle once, watching the traffic, then on the second cycle I "observed like hell" and carefully turned right and carried on. Examiner behind me.
He told me after I did exactly the right thing and I'd have failed my test had I sat there like a lemon doing nothing.
You can turn right when the lights are green regardless of the green arrow being lit if it is safe to do so.He told me after I did exactly the right thing and I'd have failed my test had I sat there like a lemon doing nothing.
BertBert said:
bigothunter said:
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
I think we are all happy that you are incorrect here, but I wonder if you have any reference that suports the course of action you suggest?bigothunter said:
BertBert said:
bigothunter said:
Legally you have broken the law and could be fined. The correct course of action is to contact the police and await their arrival.
I think we are all happy that you are incorrect here, but I wonder if you have any reference that suports the course of action you suggest?So we're looking for the reference from you that says call the police as wait for them.
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