Red Light Cameras
Discussion
I'd be happy if there was a camera on every set of lights in the country. But only if there was also a law allowing perpetrators of Livingstone-esque rephasing exercises to be bound to my rear bumper and dragged along the M4 for at least three junctions. Hastens to add that no matter how ridiculous the phasing, there is absolutely no excuse for contravening red light signals and anybody willfully doing this should lose their licence immediately.
Streetcop said:Well, I used to think they were a good idea but after reading a few PHers accounts of being done by them I'm not so sure any more.
...I presume most of PHs approval too...
Also, I believe there are some that are set to go off after a very short orange cycle so you could, potentially, go through an orange light only for it to be red where the sensor is and thus get a photo with a red light showing and you with no proof
There exist certain sets of traffic lights which (a) do not run through their sequence on a time basis in the absence of traffic and (b) do not detect the presence of motorcycles. If you arrive at a set of lights like this on a bike in the middle of the night you have no choice but to jump them.
The cameras should be set to activate once the light has turned red...The wheels of the car must hit the first sensor, before the white line, then the second sensor after the white line...
You'll find that the majority of bullshit excuses..ambulances behind, stopping distance of the car behind etc are just lies...
Running red or gambling on Ambers is dangerous in the utmost degree and perpetrators get all they deserve, IMO..Having attended such accidents, you'd be surprised at how fragile motorvehicles are in side impact collisions and the chances of KSI are very high.
Street
You'll find that the majority of bullshit excuses..ambulances behind, stopping distance of the car behind etc are just lies...
Running red or gambling on Ambers is dangerous in the utmost degree and perpetrators get all they deserve, IMO..Having attended such accidents, you'd be surprised at how fragile motorvehicles are in side impact collisions and the chances of KSI are very high.
Street
no complants from me about red light jumpers cameras.
100% there for safety reasona - saves accidents and injuries, lives without a shadow of a doubt - well it must prevent some - despite the photo below !
But I bet they don't generate 1% of the revenue of a speed camera would 1/4 mile before the junction ?!
Streetcop said:
The cameras should be set to activate once the light has turned red...The wheels of the car must hit the first sensor, before the white line, then the second sensor after the white line...
You'll find that the majority of bullshit excuses..ambulances behind, stopping distance of the car behind etc are just lies...
Running red or gambling on Ambers is dangerous in the utmost degree and perpetrators get all they deserve, IMO..Having attended such accidents, you'd be surprised at how fragile motorvehicles are in side impact collisions and the chances of KSI are very high.
Street
Streetcop.
I have a related story that happened to me years ago.
I was driving home from the pub, and as I drove through a set of lights, they changed to amber (honestly). Anyway, on the left of the junction was a Police car who decided to investigate, so they followed me. I wasn't sure that it was them at first because it was at night, so I went home via the scenic route
. What transpired was that I turned round at the bottom of my road, only to be facing the BiB car
A somewhat hor*y Police woman got out and asked me where I'd been, to which I replied "down the pub" ( oh whatan
I was ) . She asked me how many I'd had to which I replied "two Bacardi and Cokes ( not a lie, I just did'nt elaborate that they were doubles She let me off which I was glad about. Probably didn't have a breathelizer
. But by God was she hor*y. Mon Ami Mate said:
I'd be happy if there was a camera on every set of lights in the country. But only if there was also a law allowing perpetrators of Livingstone-esque rephasing exercises to be bound to my rear bumper and dragged along the M4 for at least three junctions. Hastens to add that no matter how ridiculous the phasing, there is absolutely no excuse for contravening red light signals and anybody willfully doing this should lose their licence immediately.
During the past few years Scarborough Borough Council has added traffic lights in numerous locations around the town. Unfortunately they've made a balls up of the phasing and time periods on some of them. In some cases you can be fourth in the queue at the red light, and still not get through on the green if you behave legally. I'm therefore not surprised so many people are reluctant to stop when the amber appears preceeding the red. I certainly do not condone such behaviour, though I can understand why it seems to be happening increasingly.
Best wishes all,
Dave - guilty of various sins but not a traffic light jumper.
Absolutely for them street, had a few close calls though. I wasn't being stupid either. Somebody on this forum will be able to tell me how long it takes to stop 44 tonnes at 40 mph, longer than the amber is on I know. I have to slow down for traffic lights, something that annoys the people behind me (especialy when it turns red when I'm halfway through them).
But then, they weren't designed with me in mind.
Phil
But then, they weren't designed with me in mind.
Phil
I agree entirely Streetcop.
I also like the idea of a speed camera being used to trigger the next set of lights to turn red, as they have in France.
Many folks will happily do 40 in a 30 zone, but wouldnt run a red light. Maybe the red light could be timed to stay on depending on how far over the limit they were driving, say mid 30's you just get a delay to your journey time which negates the point of speeding, but above a certain speed they automatically get the usual nip.
And the resentment of those queuing up behind who they have also 'held up' by their speeding would also bear down on them too. It would not be nice waiting at a red light when you know you had triggered it and everyone behind you is not very chuffed with you.
I also like the idea of a speed camera being used to trigger the next set of lights to turn red, as they have in France.
Many folks will happily do 40 in a 30 zone, but wouldnt run a red light. Maybe the red light could be timed to stay on depending on how far over the limit they were driving, say mid 30's you just get a delay to your journey time which negates the point of speeding, but above a certain speed they automatically get the usual nip.
And the resentment of those queuing up behind who they have also 'held up' by their speeding would also bear down on them too. It would not be nice waiting at a red light when you know you had triggered it and everyone behind you is not very chuffed with you.
Although I'm for the camera, I personally think that pictures should be taken back-wards as well to show if any other circumstances are involved.
"Jumping" red lights, I agree is a no-no, but following the highway code and travelling through Amber lights as you have a taxi bearing down on you after acting like a
should be understood!
You may be on your high-horse and tell me what happened to myself is made up but I had no way to prove my innocence and got harshly treated by all involved.
"Jumping" red lights, I agree is a no-no, but following the highway code and travelling through Amber lights as you have a taxi bearing down on you after acting like a
should be understood! You may be on your high-horse and tell me what happened to myself is made up but I had no way to prove my innocence and got harshly treated by all involved.
There was a red light camera (probably still is) in Carnaby, Near the east coast in North Yorkshite, covering a railway crossing in a NSL area. There have been numerous complaints from people being done by it, as you have no time to stop if it goes to Amber as you approach. Laws of physics and all that.
The only thing you can do is slow right down and keep a very close eye on it (and not on the road) or just slam on to avoid being prosecuted.
Now don't get me wrong, red light jumpers should lose their license, balls the lot in my opinion, but these cameras also show up the deficiences in automated prosecution devices.
Surely the amber time should relate to the posted speed limit?
The only thing you can do is slow right down and keep a very close eye on it (and not on the road) or just slam on to avoid being prosecuted.
Now don't get me wrong, red light jumpers should lose their license, balls the lot in my opinion, but these cameras also show up the deficiences in automated prosecution devices.
Surely the amber time should relate to the posted speed limit?
Streetcop said:
You'll find that the majority of bullshit excuses..ambulances behind, stopping distance of the car behind etc are just lies...
Street
So there must be a minority who have been procecuded in error. Whilst I agree that these cameras do save lives, any wrongful procecutions will only turn the public against them.
These cameras also have the risk of a backlash from the public. If the public fear being procecuted, they will not make way for ambulances, fire trucks or police cars. Then, arguably, the cameras would be "too successful" and other deaths may occur due to the 100% obayance of the lights.
Having said this, I am not arguing for their removal and I would jump a light for any emergency vehicle. But the authorities should investigate fully any claim that a motorist makes. Perhaps emergency vehicles should have the ability to turn the red lights to green or GRS monitoring in those vehicles could be cross checked against any claims of unfair procecution.
I once got to implement a trial of speed detectors in the road in advance of traffic lights.
If the car was found to be speeding, the traffic lights ahead had their phasing interupted and the said driver was faced with a red light.
This was accompanied by a load of advertising in the area and advance warning signs.
Worked a treat
Pity I left the job before the end of the trial.
If the car was found to be speeding, the traffic lights ahead had their phasing interupted and the said driver was faced with a red light.
This was accompanied by a load of advertising in the area and advance warning signs.
Worked a treat
Pity I left the job before the end of the trial.
MMC said:
...and approaching pedestrian crossings, always take a quick look at the little box with the button - the one you press when you want to cross. Is it lit up? Lights about to change...
And what is the correct way to address those charming folks who press the button as they pass for the sheer hell of it, then continue without crossing...YOU B******S.
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