Red Light Cameras
Discussion
Hi there
Driving down the A12 today I encounter a junction (Barley Lane) where the traffic lights are all out; there appears to have been a collision. I freak a little because I know there are RLCs at that junction. I decide to wait to be safe but I get honked up, and people in the other lane are moving, so I carefully and safely advance forward. There ws no flash from the camera. Do RLCs automatically stop when traffic lights fail?
Further up the road as well - another junction with RLCs. I'm travelling within the speed limit, 43 in a 50, and as I'm approaching the lights, all of a sudden, they switch to amber. I quickly assess it is not safe to brake as I don't know if there is a car behind me or not, if there is they will crash into me - so I continue, probably accelerating a further 2mph if that, I cross the line but as I pass through the junction the lights change to red. No RLC camera flash (they're SpeedCurbs and I've seen them flash before on this section).
Here is the video. Sorry I'm just a bit of an anxious driver.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mhglFKFwygM7B3SBk...
Driving down the A12 today I encounter a junction (Barley Lane) where the traffic lights are all out; there appears to have been a collision. I freak a little because I know there are RLCs at that junction. I decide to wait to be safe but I get honked up, and people in the other lane are moving, so I carefully and safely advance forward. There ws no flash from the camera. Do RLCs automatically stop when traffic lights fail?
Further up the road as well - another junction with RLCs. I'm travelling within the speed limit, 43 in a 50, and as I'm approaching the lights, all of a sudden, they switch to amber. I quickly assess it is not safe to brake as I don't know if there is a car behind me or not, if there is they will crash into me - so I continue, probably accelerating a further 2mph if that, I cross the line but as I pass through the junction the lights change to red. No RLC camera flash (they're SpeedCurbs and I've seen them flash before on this section).
Here is the video. Sorry I'm just a bit of an anxious driver.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mhglFKFwygM7B3SBk...
If the lights were out then you didn’t pass through a red light.
With regard to the second incident, it sounds like you should have stopped, but don’t sweat it. Not sure why you were unaware if there was a car behind you, I use the mirrors to try to keep an awareness of what is happening behind me.
All part of developing your driving skills.
With regard to the second incident, it sounds like you should have stopped, but don’t sweat it. Not sure why you were unaware if there was a car behind you, I use the mirrors to try to keep an awareness of what is happening behind me.
All part of developing your driving skills.
Scrump said:
If the lights were out then you didn’t pass through a red light.
With regard to the second incident, it sounds like you should have stopped, but don’t sweat it. Not sure why you were unaware if there was a car behind you, I use the mirrors to try to keep an awareness of what is happening behind me.
All part of developing your driving skills.
I usually do look in my centre mirror but mostly when I'm slowing down etc to see the impact on a driver behind me, in the time it would take for me to double check my mirrors I would have even less time to react.With regard to the second incident, it sounds like you should have stopped, but don’t sweat it. Not sure why you were unaware if there was a car behind you, I use the mirrors to try to keep an awareness of what is happening behind me.
All part of developing your driving skills.
I take it if the lights haven't flashed I haven't gone through a red light etc?
carl_w said:
Well as this is PH...
+ You appear to have gone past the stop line when the light was on amber, so all good.
- Why are you in the right hand land but travelling slower than the left hand lane?
P.H?+ You appear to have gone past the stop line when the light was on amber, so all good.
- Why are you in the right hand land but travelling slower than the left hand lane?
Honestly, I don't know. I'm just accustomed to driving in the right lane so I don't get stuck behind someone on the left.
EDIT: PistonHeads? XD
Edited by RecentlyPassed03 on Thursday 18th August 22:23
RecentlyPassed03 said:
Hi there
Further up the road as well - another junction with RLCs. I'm travelling within the speed limit, 43 in a 50, and as I'm approaching the lights, all of a sudden, they switch to amber.
You're probably ok.Further up the road as well - another junction with RLCs. I'm travelling within the speed limit, 43 in a 50, and as I'm approaching the lights, all of a sudden, they switch to amber.
Top tip though, they only ever switch "all of a sudden" to amber.
Looks to me like you did not go through a red light at all in the video. You were quite well past the stop line, the red light you then see would not have a stop line but it is connected to the one you passed timewise. They do have names.....can't remember now...helper lights??
There is a junction in Southend where when you turn left you are met by this traffic light after 3 yards, bright red.....it is for those in your situation (going ahead) but quite a few slam on the brakes as they think it is for them. The lack of a stop line means no, never.
I was one of those few
EDIT: Secondary lights! Only the primary (the one you sped up for) has a stop line and is therefore of interest to any camera. You are 100% fine, I'd say.
There is a junction in Southend where when you turn left you are met by this traffic light after 3 yards, bright red.....it is for those in your situation (going ahead) but quite a few slam on the brakes as they think it is for them. The lack of a stop line means no, never.
I was one of those few
EDIT: Secondary lights! Only the primary (the one you sped up for) has a stop line and is therefore of interest to any camera. You are 100% fine, I'd say.
Edited by jondude on Friday 19th August 17:43
One thing to be aware of, if you haven't been told about them already, is "speed on green" cameras.
These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
Edited by Strangely Brown on Friday 19th August 17:58
Strangely Brown said:
One thing to be aware of, if you haven't been told about them already, is "speed on green" cameras.
These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
My wife has a pending NIP for 35 in a 30 caught by a red light camera in Cheshire. These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
She's always terrified of getting caught going through on red so sped up a touch as she went through
I've told her loads of times that the red light camera doesn't take a pic until 1.2 seconds after the light goes red.Strangely Brown said:
One thing to be aware of, if you haven't been told about them already, is "speed on green" cameras.
These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
No they aren't. They are there to catch people speeding These are red light cameras that act as speed cameras when the lights are green/amber. They are there to catch people just trying to "nip through" and are increasingly common in Sussex. I expect they will be around elsewhere too.
Edited by Strangely Brown on Friday 19th August 17:58
RecentlyPassed03 said:
Honestly, I don't know. I'm just accustomed to driving in the right lane so I don't get stuck behind someone on the left.
Meaning you then become the "someone" that someone else gets stuck behind. It happens here in Milton Keynes all the time: my commute typically involves a lot of roundabouts (no surprise) linked by dual carriageways. People often seem to "reserve" the right hand lane about 3 roundabouts before actually turning right Edited by RecentlyPassed03 on Thursday 18th August 22:23
RecentlyPassed03 said:
P.H?
Honestly, I don't know. I'm just accustomed to driving in the right lane so I don't get stuck behind someone on the left.
Ah, so you're one of those extremely annoying people who chooses to hold everyone else up in the right lane. Always wondered what the mindset behind people like that was - even more insane that you've only recently passed and don't know to keep left unless overtaking... I do wonder what the state of driving instruction is these days.Honestly, I don't know. I'm just accustomed to driving in the right lane so I don't get stuck behind someone on the left.
For what its worth, running a red light (which you haven't done) is 3 points and £100 fine. Driving in the overtaking lane when not overtaking is classed as Careless Driving, which is also 3 points and a £100 fine - accordingly I would hope you treat the two issues in the same light
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