Light changing from amber to red while crossing the line
Discussion
Hi, wondering if anyone know the answer to this:
I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
Sounds like you did have time to stop, but we all make mistakes, even experienced drivers.
As to whether anything will come of it, it depends whether there were cameras at the junction to catch red light jumpers. I can't remember what the penalty might be.
Edit, sorry just re-read the post. I don't know how sensitive the cameras are
As to whether anything will come of it, it depends whether there were cameras at the junction to catch red light jumpers. I can't remember what the penalty might be.
Edit, sorry just re-read the post. I don't know how sensitive the cameras are
meb90 said:
Sounds like you did have time to stop, but we all make mistakes, even experienced drivers.
As to whether anything will come of it, it depends whether there were cameras at the junction to catch red light jumpers. I can't remember what the penalty might be.
Thanks for replying. I saw the camera when I drove back round to check. I hope it only goes off if both sets of wheels cross it. As to whether anything will come of it, it depends whether there were cameras at the junction to catch red light jumpers. I can't remember what the penalty might be.
What really worries me is that for the first two years after passing if I get six points my license is revoked. I don't just get banned it's taken away and I'm back to being a learner. So two honest minor mistakes and it's game over. If I get 3 points I'm going to stop driving until the two years are up because it's just not worth the risk. Genuinely trying my best though.
Seem to recall a rumour that they have a very slight delay. I've definitely been through one or two known camera lights over the last few years in exactly the manner you say, and not received anything.
Try and chill out, if its happened then its happened. I hope you get nothing, but in future, remember back to your lessons and if a lights been green for a while, be prepared to stop.
Then as Meb90 says, we all make mistakes, I definitely have occasionally, some much more serious than this.
Try and chill out, if its happened then its happened. I hope you get nothing, but in future, remember back to your lessons and if a lights been green for a while, be prepared to stop.
Then as Meb90 says, we all make mistakes, I definitely have occasionally, some much more serious than this.
It is an offence for any part of the vehicle to cross the stop line while the light is red.
AIUI red light cameras typically have a grace period of 1 second. They have to have an amber phase of 3 seconds, for comparison.
Highway Code said:
You MUST stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road unless the light is green. If the amber light appears you may go on only if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to stop might cause a collision.
Not entirely enlightening.TSRGD 2016 said:
the red signal conveys the prohibition that vehicular traffic must not proceed beyond the stop line.
Again, not enlightening. But I believe it's upheld in case law, and other parts of TSRGD that are comparable state "any part" of the vehicle.AIUI red light cameras typically have a grace period of 1 second. They have to have an amber phase of 3 seconds, for comparison.
Pebbles167 said:
Seem to recall a rumour that they have a very slight delay. I've definitely been through one or two known camera lights over the last few years in exactly the manner you say, and not received anything.
Try and chill out, if its happened then its happened. I hope you get nothing, but in future, remember back to your lessons and if a lights been green for a while, be prepared to stop.
Then as Meb90 says, we all make mistakes, I definitely have occasionally, some much more serious than this.
Thanks. Being worried all the time certainly isn't helping me. What's frustrating is that I was stopped at the lights a couple of cars back, they went green, i pulled away, and they went amber pretty much immediately. I guess they were favouring the major road the minor one I was in was crossing. But it didn't give me much time.Try and chill out, if its happened then its happened. I hope you get nothing, but in future, remember back to your lessons and if a lights been green for a while, be prepared to stop.
Then as Meb90 says, we all make mistakes, I definitely have occasionally, some much more serious than this.
It's a learning experience though -- I'll pull away slowly and ready to stop.
Jared_Lumas said:
Hi, wondering if anyone know the answer to this:
I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
Generally the camera waits for a second (or a period of time) before triggering. The analytical program (or human )analyst will assume you are doing 40 or under and can measure if your front wheels were over the line when the light changed...if they were you're OK. Did you see a flash? I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
The lesson here is to slow down a bit approaching these junctions and be ready to brake.
Solocle said:
It is an offence for any part of the vehicle to cross the stop line while the light is red.
AIUI red light cameras typically have a grace period of 1 second. They have to have an amber phase of 3 seconds, for comparison.
Thanks. If there is a one second grace period I might be OK. It was definitely amber when I started crossing and I expect I would have cleared it within a second of it going red.Highway Code said:
You MUST stop behind the white ‘Stop’ line across your side of the road unless the light is green. If the amber light appears you may go on only if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to stop might cause a collision.
Not entirely enlightening.TSRGD 2016 said:
the red signal conveys the prohibition that vehicular traffic must not proceed beyond the stop line.
Again, not enlightening. But I believe it's upheld in case law, and other parts of TSRGD that are comparable state "any part" of the vehicle.AIUI red light cameras typically have a grace period of 1 second. They have to have an amber phase of 3 seconds, for comparison.
Definitely going to be even more cautious now.
Pothole said:
Jared_Lumas said:
Hi, wondering if anyone know the answer to this:
I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
Generally the camera waits for a second (or a period of time) before triggering. The analytical program (or human )analyst will assume you are doing 40 or under and can measure if your front wheels were over the line when the light changed...if they were you're OK. Did you see a flash? I'm a new driver trying my best to stick the the law but may have made an error of judgement at some traffic lights.
Approaching traffic lights with a camera, they went amber, I made the judgement call it was too late to stop, they changed to red while I was crossing the line. So when the front wheels crossed the line the light was amber but when the rear wheels crossed it was red.
Is it as simple as the lights were red and my wheels crossed so it set the sensors off and caught me? Or is it smart enough to know it was amber when the front wheels crossed? Or is that still an offence?
Thanks.
The lesson here is to slow down a bit approaching these junctions and be ready to brake.
Edited by Jared_Lumas on Monday 19th October 21:58
Having spent a short amount o f time working on the systems that work the cameras I know that there is a delay before you will trigger the camera, usually from 0.5-1 second. The delay is there so that if you are caught on camera it can be shown categorically that you jumped the red light. If it genuinely changed to red after your front axle had crossed the line then you should be absolutely fine. Just remember from now on that if the light is green then the next in the sequence is yellow so allow for that in the way you approach the junction.
Jared_Lumas said:
Thanks for replying. I saw the camera when I drove back round to check. I hope it only goes off if both sets of wheels cross it.
No worries. From the other replies, if the camera has some grace period then you'll be OK.In the mean time, I would try not to worry as it won't help with your driving or mental health. What will be will be. I had a nervous 2 weeks a few months ago when I thought I got caught a touch over the limit by a neighbour hood watch chap, but nothing came of it. Made me think though.
I wouldn't hang your keys up if you have been caught though, just be more careful. It's all part of the learning curve.
NoAdverseDevelopments said:
Having spent a short amount o f time working on the systems that work the cameras I know that there is a delay before you will trigger the camera, usually from 0.5-1 second. The delay is there so that if you are caught on camera it can be shown categorically that you jumped the red light. If it genuinely changed to red after your front axle had crossed the line then you should be absolutely fine. Just remember from now on that if the light is green then the next in the sequence is yellow so allow for that in the way you approach the junction.
Thanks. That's good news. I'm keen to be a good driver so will take it all on board. Being calm about it all is key. I tend to panic the moment I see lights and/or cameras even though I'm being safe. I seem to be OK approaching lights that are green and am always ready to stop in time. It's when I'm queuing when they're on red, pull away, and they go amber immediately that I have the problem. It's because I'm in pulling away mode rather than getting ready to stop mode. Guess I have to just go really slowly and not care if the car behind beeps.
meb90 said:
Jared_Lumas said:
Thanks for replying. I saw the camera when I drove back round to check. I hope it only goes off if both sets of wheels cross it.
No worries. From the other replies, if the camera has some grace period then you'll be OK.In the mean time, I would try not to worry as it won't help with your driving or mental health. What will be will be. I had a nervous 2 weeks a few months ago when I thought I got caught a touch over the limit by a neighbour hood watch chap, but nothing came of it. Made me think though.
I wouldn't hang your keys up if you have been caught though, just be more careful. It's all part of the learning curve.
Pit Pony said:
To avoid doubt.
Green means :Prepare to Stop.
Amber means : Stop.
Red Means : Stop.
Once you are stopped.
Red means: Stop
Amber means: Prepare to proceed with caution.
Green means: Proceed with caution.
Thanks. It all makes sense.Green means :Prepare to Stop.
Amber means : Stop.
Red Means : Stop.
Once you are stopped.
Red means: Stop
Amber means: Prepare to proceed with caution.
Green means: Proceed with caution.
Edit: "Green means :Prepare to Stop" is really useful, thank you.
Edited by Jared_Lumas on Sunday 1st November 10:05
In all seriousness, if your feelings of stress over these issues are as you’ve described then it sounds like you may have some issues with anxiety. See your GP, they will discuss with you and if it’s warranted they can refer you for some therapy. There’s no need to live with it, and thinking you need to “man up” is likely to be counterproductive.
Pit Pony said:
To avoid doubt.
Green means :Prepare to Stop.
Amber means : Stop.
Red Means : Stop.
Once you are stopped.
Red means: Stop
Amber means: Prepare to proceed with caution.
Green means: Proceed with caution.
Also...Green means :Prepare to Stop.
Amber means : Stop.
Red Means : Stop.
Once you are stopped.
Red means: Stop
Amber means: Prepare to proceed with caution.
Green means: Proceed with caution.
Red+Amber means: stay stopped, but prepare to proceed.
I see many, many people crossing the line on red+amber. Has anyone ever been fined for it?
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