"No Traffic Lights" Signs
Discussion
Just a quick question prompted by something that happens every now and then.
As most of us probably know (especially those who drive in London with any regularity), when traffic lights are disabled or otherwise malfunctioning, a temporary sign is often put with the lights from each direction indicating this. The sign is a picture of traffic lights, crossed out. Obviously if lights are off or otherwise not working properly, they cease to be a set of traffic lights, and people can go through while giving way to each other (at the vast majority of junctions this improves things, but that's another topic).
What I have also seen on occasion is the "no traffic lights" sign accompanying what appears to be a set of perfectly working traffic lights. However, there is always the possibility that the lights are not in fact working as perfectly as they seem, or are only working intermittently, and that is why the "no traffic lights" sign is there.
So, my question is: are you allowed to disregard a set of traffic lights when the sign is there, whether or not they appear to be working? Or are you expected to judge for yourself whether they are working in the (possibly short) run-up to the lights, and treat them as a set of lights or not accordingly?
Bet vonhosen doesn't know that off the top of his head.
As most of us probably know (especially those who drive in London with any regularity), when traffic lights are disabled or otherwise malfunctioning, a temporary sign is often put with the lights from each direction indicating this. The sign is a picture of traffic lights, crossed out. Obviously if lights are off or otherwise not working properly, they cease to be a set of traffic lights, and people can go through while giving way to each other (at the vast majority of junctions this improves things, but that's another topic).
What I have also seen on occasion is the "no traffic lights" sign accompanying what appears to be a set of perfectly working traffic lights. However, there is always the possibility that the lights are not in fact working as perfectly as they seem, or are only working intermittently, and that is why the "no traffic lights" sign is there.
So, my question is: are you allowed to disregard a set of traffic lights when the sign is there, whether or not they appear to be working? Or are you expected to judge for yourself whether they are working in the (possibly short) run-up to the lights, and treat them as a set of lights or not accordingly?
Bet vonhosen doesn't know that off the top of his head.
7db said:
And even then, I'd say that understanding that green means "proceed if clear" rather than "go" becomes more important than before.
I've got a mate who always used to comment on why I was looking left / right and slowing at traffic-lighted crossroads.His car was t-boned about a year ago by somebody running a red light...
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