Traffic lights stuck on red
Traffic lights stuck on red
Author
Discussion

topless360

Original Poster:

2,763 posts

248 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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I've been thinking about a scenario that occurred last weekend and wondering what the law or HC would advise.

Driving along a quiet B road, I came to a stop at some temporary traffic lights. My light was red, and the Astra at the other end was stationary too. They were only 2 way lights.

We waited for a while and it was clear we were both on red, so I decided to go through. As I passed the 2nd set of lights, in my mirror I could see the other lights were also red and at this point the Astra decided to go through on red too.

On the way back at the end of the day I had the same situation where I had to go through on red.

mcg_

1,454 posts

122 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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I'd imagine if you could demonstrate that you had been sat there for long enough to be sure they weren't working properly, they'd be ok with jumping them.

It's pretty common for temps to get stuck, which is a bit st.

cuprabob

19,697 posts

244 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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It's worse when one is stuck on green and you're facing tbe red light.

Durzel

12,999 posts

198 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Legally you're not allowed to go through a red light under any circumstances, unless directed to do so by a constable or traffic warden.

As it is with such things discretion may or may not be applied, if you are seen doing it in circumstances as you describe.

BertBert

21,273 posts

241 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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I don't think this is true. I believe there is allowance for lights where it is reasonable to believe they are broken. Don't have a reference to have though.
Bert

Durzel said:
Legally you're not allowed to go through a red light under any circumstances, unless directed to do so by a constable or traffic warden.

As it is with such things discretion may or may not be applied, if you are seen doing it in circumstances as you describe.

BertBert

21,273 posts

241 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Having googled a bit the debate on here a few years back made the point that lights stuck on red are not in accordance with statute and so are not legal signage.

Tony1963

5,808 posts

192 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Just proceed with great care, and you should be fine. A horrible situation to be in if the other traffic light is out of sight around a corner....

grumpy52

6,065 posts

196 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Also contact the police as a non urgent and they will contact the correct authority to get them sorted .
I had the situation a while ago with some temporary lights on the A2 near Dover , they were in place while the permanent lights were being updated due to repeated failure, they had stuck on red on a double junction . Luckily it was a 4 am not rush hour . I rang the police on 101 and they said it was the second failure in 6 hrs .

Chrisgr31

14,281 posts

285 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Yes call the police on the non-urgent number, they will call someone to get them fixed, and in the meantime might come out and turn them away from the traffic, so at least the traffic should move with care

LosingGrip

8,873 posts

189 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
grumpy52 said:
Also contact the police as a non urgent and they will contact the correct authority to get them sorted .
I had the situation a while ago with some temporary lights on the A2 near Dover , they were in place while the permanent lights were being updated due to repeated failure, they had stuck on red on a double junction . Luckily it was a 4 am not rush hour . I rang the police on 101 and they said it was the second failure in 6 hrs .
Be worth checking the lights, sometimes theres a number to phone on there (normally at the bottom). Saves a bit of police time smile.

Wacky Racer

41,363 posts

277 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Sometimes if they have a "sensor" on the top they will change to green if you drive your car a bit closer.

Happened to me last month after I had been waiting nearly five minutes on a very quiet road.

TwigtheWonderkid

49,115 posts

180 months

Friday 16th February 2018
quotequote all
Wacky Racer said:
Sometimes if they have a "sensor" on the top they will change to green if you drive your car a bit closer.

Happened to me last month after I had been waiting nearly five minutes on a very quiet road.
Yes, if you stop too far back it assumes no one is their and keeps your light red. But then the other should be green.

InitialDave

15,123 posts

149 months

Friday 16th February 2018
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Had it happen once, I went through the red and reported it to the council.

MitchT

17,136 posts

239 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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There were some down the road from me for quite a while. They'd be OK during the day but early every morning they'd be stuck on red. The distance between the lights was very short so everyone just treated them as a pinch point where the first to arrive has right of way.

Biker 1

8,585 posts

149 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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Seems to happen a lot around here with temporary works. A couple of weeks back SGN dug a small hole in the pavement, & went completely overboard with traffic 'management'. 3 way lights all stuck on red in the middle of rush hour - the workforce seemingly were not qualified to do anything about it, so gridlock ensued, resulting in much harrumphing & rage.

miniman

30,079 posts

292 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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topless360 said:
I've been thinking about a scenario that occurred last weekend and wondering what the law or HC would advise.

Driving along a quiet B road, I came to a stop at some temporary traffic lights. My light was red, and the Astra at the other end was stationary too. They were only 2 way lights.

We waited for a while and it was clear we were both on red, so I decided to go through. As I passed the 2nd set of lights, in my mirror I could see the other lights were also red and at this point the Astra decided to go through on red too.

On the way back at the end of the day I had the same situation where I had to go through on red.
I wonder who got the battery.

vikingaero

13,344 posts

199 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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I'm not 100% on this but I'm fairly sure that still not allowed through and have to turn around and find an alternative route.

I've seen white van man throw a pair of lights into the hedge when it was clear they were broken. Made traffic flow much more freely.

4rephill

5,168 posts

208 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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vikingaero said:
I'm not 100% on this but I'm fairly sure that still not allowed through and have to turn around and find an alternative route.........
Not according to Derbyshire Police: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/derby/hi/people_and_pl...

In that article, they suggest waiting at least four minutes to give the lights a chance to change before opting to drive through the red light.



Swanny87

1,265 posts

149 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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Over here in Oz they just use blokes in high vis, walkie talkies and stop/slow signs. Seems to work fine!

Bigends

6,174 posts

158 months

Saturday 17th February 2018
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
Yes, if you stop too far back it assumes no one is their and keeps your light red. But then the other should be green.
We have a set like that - just drive up to the stop line and they know theres a vehicle waiting.