Amber to Red light - lorry.
Discussion
Hi I know the title might be a bit misleading I just have a question since I havent really looked into it as usually I'm a very sensible driver, however this morning around 7am I started my shift driving my dustcart and as we was approaching a junction the lights was green, about literally a metre away from the stop line the lights have turned to amber and I'm pretty sure my back wheels of the lorry crossed the white stop line at red as they changed quiet quickly, we obviously proceeded through the intersection before any other traffic moved off from the other side, I'm just curious how would the law enforcement look at this kind of situation, would they issue a nip for something so stupid?
To my defence it would be hard stopping in a car when your literally right next to the line, let alone a whole lorry with couple tonnes in the back, so I'm quiete not sure what to think of this one, has anyone had a similar incident?
To my defence it would be hard stopping in a car when your literally right next to the line, let alone a whole lorry with couple tonnes in the back, so I'm quiete not sure what to think of this one, has anyone had a similar incident?
if you were observed by a copper doing this, he'd make his mind up based on what he saw.
Your speed on approach the lights, whether you were accelerating to beat the lights, whether you could have stopped safely when the amber appeared, traffic conditions, the size of your vehicle and what danger it might have posed if you'd followed the letter of the law and not allowed any wheel to pass the stop line on red. And if he decided to pull you, what your attitude is.
Your speed on approach the lights, whether you were accelerating to beat the lights, whether you could have stopped safely when the amber appeared, traffic conditions, the size of your vehicle and what danger it might have posed if you'd followed the letter of the law and not allowed any wheel to pass the stop line on red. And if he decided to pull you, what your attitude is.
Baaaartz said:
Hi I know the title might be a bit misleading I just have a question since I havent really looked into it as usually I'm a very sensible driver, however this morning around 7am I started my shift driving my dustcart and as we was approaching a junction the lights was green, about literally a metre away from the stop line the lights have turned to amber and I'm pretty sure my back wheels of the lorry crossed the white stop line at red as they changed quiet quickly, we obviously proceeded through the intersection before any other traffic moved off from the other side, I'm just curious how would the law enforcement look at this kind of situation, would they issue a nip for something so stupid?
To my defence it would be hard stopping in a car when your literally right next to the line, let alone a whole lorry with couple tonnes in the back, so I'm quiete not sure what to think of this one, has anyone had a similar incident?
Amber conveys the same message as a Red light.To my defence it would be hard stopping in a car when your literally right next to the line, let alone a whole lorry with couple tonnes in the back, so I'm quiete not sure what to think of this one, has anyone had a similar incident?
With the caveat that you must stop, unless it’s unsafe to do so.
It’s unsafe if you have to slam the brakes on.
Besides, you’d already entered the junction.
If you’re vehicle has already entered the junction (crossed the stop line), proceed and exit, unless directed otherwise.
Don’t worry about it.
Rivenink said:
if you were observed by a copper doing this, he'd make his mind up based on what he saw.
Your speed on approach the lights, whether you were accelerating to beat the lights, whether you could have stopped safely when the amber appeared, traffic conditions, the size of your vehicle and what danger it might have posed if you'd followed the letter of the law and not allowed any wheel to pass the stop line on red. And if he decided to pull you, what your attitude is.
He wasn’t trying to beat the lights. They changed from green to amber within a vehicles length.Your speed on approach the lights, whether you were accelerating to beat the lights, whether you could have stopped safely when the amber appeared, traffic conditions, the size of your vehicle and what danger it might have posed if you'd followed the letter of the law and not allowed any wheel to pass the stop line on red. And if he decided to pull you, what your attitude is.
Don’t try to read into something that isn’t there.
I slowed down to about 15mph before the lights, when they turned amber you literally wouldn't stop in a car let alone a lorry, I have accelerated when I have went past the white stop line as I had to clear the intersection so that i wouldn't block anyonr, I did not speed when I say I have accelerated I went from about 15mph to 25mph.
There was no copper there, but there is a red light camera there, I'm unsure whenever It has flashed as it was quite bright.
The only thing I know is that there was also a car behind me that was quite close and if I was to perform an emergency stop due to the fact of me being too close to the lights I would have caused an accident.
There was no copper there, but there is a red light camera there, I'm unsure whenever It has flashed as it was quite bright.
The only thing I know is that there was also a car behind me that was quite close and if I was to perform an emergency stop due to the fact of me being too close to the lights I would have caused an accident.
Baaaartz said:
There was no copper there, but there is a red light camera there, I'm unsure whenever It has flashed as it was quite bright.
The only thing I know is that there was also a car behind me that was quite close and if I was to perform an emergency stop due to the fact of me being too close to the lights I would have caused an accident.
So no dramas then. You’d already crossed the stop line. OP don’t stress yourself. You did the correct thing, especially if you knew there was a car behind you.The only thing I know is that there was also a car behind me that was quite close and if I was to perform an emergency stop due to the fact of me being too close to the lights I would have caused an accident.
And BTW, you wouldn’t have caused an accident, if it happened....the driver behind would’ve.
Sounds like a sensible piece of driving from you.
Do you know how many reds I’ve jumped, with my pupils? Or received a NIP? 0
Do you know how many accidents I’ve had at Trafficlights ‘Cos pupils slammed on the brakes? 0
Do you know how many times I’ve said ‘keep going’ as the pupils foot moves to hit the brakes 1 car length from amber? And I’ve seen the 40 ton articulated lorry 1 metre behind us?
10,000
It’s fun, being a driving instructor!
Well done. Good driving
Edited by TVR1 on Thursday 3rd September 18:23
It does sound to me like you will have the 14 day sweats to see if the camera says no to your move. All you can do is hope you made it across as it is unlikely the camera shows mercy BUT I think some if not all of them flash a little while after red and not dead on it, meaning you would have travelled even further before it flashed or would flash.
Others might know if that is true, I suspect it is so as to give some leeway in circumstances as yours and not encouraging emergency braking at lights.
Others might know if that is true, I suspect it is so as to give some leeway in circumstances as yours and not encouraging emergency braking at lights.
Subject to amber conveying the same message as red, except if unsafe etc etc...
The offence is committed if any part of a vehicle proceeds beyond (over) the stop line when the red light is showing. As long as the entire vehicle has passed beyond the stop line before the lights are showing red, no offence is committed if the vehicle then proceeds across the junction.
The amber to red phase is fixed at 3 seconds (+/- 0.25s).
How long is a dustbin lorry - 12m ?
At 15mph, and assuming the lights changed to amber with the front of the vehicle precisely at the stop line, the rear of the wagon would have cleared the line long before the lights had changed to red.
If there was a red light camera at the junction, there would have been a delay between the lights changing to red and the camera going active, thus allowing a little extra time to clear the line.
The offence is committed if any part of a vehicle proceeds beyond (over) the stop line when the red light is showing. As long as the entire vehicle has passed beyond the stop line before the lights are showing red, no offence is committed if the vehicle then proceeds across the junction.
The amber to red phase is fixed at 3 seconds (+/- 0.25s).
How long is a dustbin lorry - 12m ?
At 15mph, and assuming the lights changed to amber with the front of the vehicle precisely at the stop line, the rear of the wagon would have cleared the line long before the lights had changed to red.
If there was a red light camera at the junction, there would have been a delay between the lights changing to red and the camera going active, thus allowing a little extra time to clear the line.
Edited by SS2. on Thursday 3rd September 18:22
SS2. said:
The offence is committed if any part of a vehicle proceeds beyond (over) the stop line when the red light is showing.
The amber to red phase is fixed at 3 seconds (+/- 0.25s).
How long is a dustbin lorry - 12m ?
At 15mph, and assuming the lights changed to amber with the front of the vehicle precisely at the stop line, the rear of the wagon would have cleared the line long before the lights had changed to red.
If there was a red light camera at the junction, there would have been a delay between the lights changing to red and the camera going active, thus allowing a little extra time to clear the line.
Yeah I'm just giving you rough speeds might have been a bit slower than 15mph I'm not 100% sure, I know it was nowhere near 30mph as I was turning right on that junction so I had to slow down regardless.The amber to red phase is fixed at 3 seconds (+/- 0.25s).
How long is a dustbin lorry - 12m ?
At 15mph, and assuming the lights changed to amber with the front of the vehicle precisely at the stop line, the rear of the wagon would have cleared the line long before the lights had changed to red.
If there was a red light camera at the junction, there would have been a delay between the lights changing to red and the camera going active, thus allowing a little extra time to clear the line.
I'm 100% certain 90% of my lorry has crossed on amber and when I was roughly in the middle of the intersection turning right (the intersection is quiete wide aswell) I seen the lights change from amber to red.
Coming back to the back wheels of the lorry crossing over the stop line after it has turned red, I'm pretty sure they did but maybe my head is just messing with me.
Either way I'll take the punishment if I have to after all I should have anticipated the lights going amber, I just thought instead of slamming on the breaks and potentially having an accident its better of proceeding through the junction considering it was literally 1meter if not a bit less away from the stop line.
Also even if I was to slam on the breaks I'm pretty sure the weight alone would push the lorry past the white stop line making it difficult for others to pass by coming from the other side.
jondude said:
It does sound to me like you will have the 14 day sweats to see if the camera says no to your move. All you can do is hope you made it across as it is unlikely the camera shows mercy BUT I think some if not all of them flash a little while after red and not dead on it, meaning you would have travelled even further before it flashed or would flash.
Others might know if that is true, I suspect it is so as to give some leeway in circumstances as yours and not encouraging emergency braking at lights.
We will find out in 14 days🤣 I'm just curious that all I havent looked into stuff like that as usually I'm very sensible with my driving after all I'm driving a "killing machine" if used by wrong hands.Others might know if that is true, I suspect it is so as to give some leeway in circumstances as yours and not encouraging emergency braking at lights.
Allowing a delay of 0.7 seconds between the red light showing and the camera activating, and assuming 12m at the start of amber from the stop line to the [camera triggering] rear wheels, you'd needed to have been travelling at less than 7.5mph to have any chance of being snapped crossing the line on red.
Ian Geary said:
Dustcart?
Intersection?
Maybe the OP can confirm whether uk law is applicable to this situation?
We call them both dustcarts and rubbish trucks here in leafy ChiswickIntersection?
Maybe the OP can confirm whether uk law is applicable to this situation?
Intersection is a well renowned description to describe 2 (or more) roads that meet.
Its sorta the Highway Code.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff