Apparently I've been jumping red lights forever
Discussion
If I'm stopped at a red light, I go the second the amber illuminates. I don't wait for green, and I never noticed anyone else doing it differently to me. From reading a dash cam thread in another part of the forum people are bashing the driver for going on amber instead of green.
Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
ndreaw said:
If I'm stopped at a red light, I go the second the amber illuminates. I don't wait for green, and I never noticed anyone else doing it differently to me. From reading a dash cam thread in another part of the forum people are bashing the driver for going on amber instead of green.
Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
How clever of you
ndreaw said:
fttm said:
How clever of you
Just looking for serious input on whether this is actually wrong. I learned to drive in London and you'd just get honked at if you waited for the green.Is this a serious thread!????
Whilst on the subject, what's everyone's view on why we still have a red-and-amber phase at all, when some countries don't?
ndreaw said:
Just looking for serious input on whether this is actually wrong. I learned to drive in London and you'd just get honked at if you waited for the green.
I never go on amber and definitely would not do it in London. All you need is a 'it's amber so I can go' to meet a 'its only a bit red so go' (v common in London) to meet.giantdefy said:
I never go on amber and definitely would not do it in London. All you need is a 'it's amber so I can go' to meet a 'its only a bit red so go' (v common in London) to meet.
It's a lot worse than "it's a bit red so go" in London - I walked up to a pedestrian crossing the other week when I was down there that had been showing a green man for a couple of seconds, crossed and when I was in the middle of the road almost got ran over by a woman in a leased AMG trim A class. I gave the car a good whack though.M4cruiser said:
Serious input: Of course it's wrong to go when the red is showing. It says that somewhere in the Highway Code.
Is this a serious thread!????
Whilst on the subject, what's everyone's view on why we still have a red-and-amber phase at all, when some countries don't?
Omission of the red-and-amber phase was trialled in Northampton (and perhaps elsewhere) some decades ago (circa 1970?) but clearly did not lead to changes.Is this a serious thread!????
Whilst on the subject, what's everyone's view on why we still have a red-and-amber phase at all, when some countries don't?
ndreaw said:
If I'm stopped at a red light, I go the second the amber illuminates. I don't wait for green, and I never noticed anyone else doing it differently to me. From reading a dash cam thread in another part of the forum people are bashing the driver for going on amber instead of green.
Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
Oh my. How long have you been driving?Have I really been doing it wrong this entire time?? I must have been doing it around police cars at some point, and have gone through MANY red light cameras without any issue.
You know it doesn't go amber after red right?
It's quite clear really- green means go; red and amber means it will soon be green so wake up,but stay stopped.
Nevertheless at many junctions with good visibility, starting to creep on red and amber may not actually matter- but why take the risk, it will save you, what, 2 seconds?
OP's example from the dashcam thread showed someone accelerating firmly away on red and amber to deliberately create a near miss for dash cam footage, or for the fun of scaring the other driver. Looked like dangerous driving, not just light running.
Nevertheless at many junctions with good visibility, starting to creep on red and amber may not actually matter- but why take the risk, it will save you, what, 2 seconds?
OP's example from the dashcam thread showed someone accelerating firmly away on red and amber to deliberately create a near miss for dash cam footage, or for the fun of scaring the other driver. Looked like dangerous driving, not just light running.
Nobody can ever ‘go on amber’, because in that phase there is always a ‘red and amber’ showing. With the red still showing with the amber, it is not therefore a signal to go. I have driven far and wide, and always wait for the green before I pass the stop line. Never once in all my years driving have I been ‘honked’ for that.
(Try going on red and amber, and you may get T-boned by a ‘red runner’, from right or left)
(Try going on red and amber, and you may get T-boned by a ‘red runner’, from right or left)
I'm starting to second-guess myself, I think I might have just completely forgotten what I actually do, and don't actually go on amber. As people have pointed out, the red must be showing as well, and I wouldn't be going on red.
Weekends aren't good for my brain, too much lying around.
Weekends aren't good for my brain, too much lying around.
It's fine until you meet your twin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TDEPP1R9Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4TDEPP1R9Q
- Amber gambler" for those of us a bit older
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