Red traffic lights

[matchmaker]

Just wondered if there has been a change in the legislation that makes stopping at red traffic lights optional, instead of mandatory? The reason I ask this is that recently I have noticed more and more motorists * happily sailing through red lights. I'm not talking about "amber gamblers", I mean full on going through a light that has been red for several seconds.

• Never mind the lycra wearing brigade

[Otispunkmeyer]

I don't know, but it must coincide with an increase in the number of (often superfluous) traffic lights and the seemingly terrible phasing installed into them which means spending a lot of time on red and a few microseconds on green. People just get fed up with waiting for nothing.

[normalbloke]

Simply because they know their chances of being held to account are slim to none.

[sixor8]

I've seen it more and more recently. It's often on roundabouts IME where people can see that they can make it (and often no enforcement cameras), and it's often blatant, 1 - 2 seconds after going red.

Haven't seen anybody come a cropper myself but I'm sure it will have happened, any on YouTube?

[scenario8]

I thought a red meant “just two more”?

Maybe that’s just South London…

[8IKERDAVE]

Are we talking about permanent or temporary lights? The amount of temporary lights that have appeared in the last 12 months is mind blowing! If I can see there's nothing coming and I can get through like fk am I waiting 10 minutes for them to all complete their cycle!

[SkodaIan]

I think people have realised that even after the light has gone red, there is quite a long time before the lights change green in the other direction.

Back in the days of the "Amber gambler" adverts, traffic lights were on Amber in both directions at the same time. Now one direction is on red for several seconds before the other direction even goes to Amber.

If there is no camera or police around, people will get away with (i.e. not crash) running through reds for nearly 10 seconds after the red light has come on.

Having said that, I've not noticed any real difference in terms of people running reds recently. What I have noticed is an increase in people stopping at a light which is green!!

[Mr Miata]

Otispunkmeyer said:

I don't know, but it must coincide with an increase in the number of (often superfluous) traffic lights and the seemingly terrible phasing installed into them which means spending a lot of time on red and a few microseconds on green. People just get fed up with waiting for nothing.

Which is irrelevant if you’re going to be held up by traffic congestion anyway. Jumping the red light won’t make you get to your destination any quicker.

[andygo]

Mr Miata said:

Which is irrelevant if you’re going to be held up by traffic congestion anyway. Jumping the red light won’t make you get to your destination any quicker.

On the other hand, if there isn't much traffic, you will get to you destiantion a bit quicker, especially if you can then catch another couple of sets on green. You can easily save 5 minutes.

Just saying for balance.

[kambites]

It's been terrible around here (Hampshire) for decades. It's not uncommon to see five or six cars go through after the lights have gone red, and it's also not uncommon to see someone come up to a light which was already red and just drive through it. I've seen two accidents as a result of the latter.

[matchmaker]

SkodaIan said:

I think people have realised that even after the light has gone red, there is quite a long time before the lights change green in the other direction.

Back in the days of the "Amber gambler" adverts, traffic lights were on Amber in both directions at the same time. Now one direction is on red for several seconds before the other direction even goes to Amber.

If there is no camera or police around, people will get away with (i.e. not crash) running through reds for nearly 10 seconds after the red light has come on.

Having said that, I've not noticed any real difference in terms of people running reds recently. What I have noticed is an increase in people stopping at a light which is green!!

The interval before the lights change depends on how they have been set up. Many local to me do NOT have "quite a long time before the lights change green in the other direction".

[ch37]

Noticed this a fair bit, it's also obvious when the car behind you would quite happily have sailed through had you yourself not stopped at red, I've even had a couple pull out, overtake and sail through.

[Terminator X]

Set of roadworks near me recently stuck on red, first few cars sat there for at least 3 cycles (other cars came through the other way during that time) at which point I just sailed past them when the light was red followed by the other lemmings. True story bro.

TX.