Red Light Cameras

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Wed 28 May 2003 09:46
Red Light Cameras - pdc {P}
Your thoughts please.

A neighbour has recently received an NIP for passing through a red light in Manchester. The picture was taken 1.5 seconds after the light turned red and her speed was recorded at 19.2 mph.

She is now considering whether to accept the 3 points and £60 fine or to challenge based on the fact that she believed it safer to pass the light rather than stop.

The offence took place on a Friday evening, at 6pm rush hour, in extremely heavy rain. As the lights started their green->red sequence she braked from 40 down to the 19.2 mph that the camera recorded, but due to the closeness of the vehicle behind she decided that to brake any harder could cause an accident should the driver behind not be able to stop in the same distance on the wet road.

She does not dispute that fact that she passed the red light as she consciously took the decision to do so.

Does anyone out there ever been in a similar situation, and given the facts, is it worth her while to go to court to provide mitigating circumstances, or will she be given the 3 points automatically?
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Wed 28 May 2003 10:01
Red Light Cameras - Altea Ego
She can go to court, and explain how it was 6pm, in the rush hour, extremely heavy rain, and given those conditions was driving too fast to stop at a red light.

or take the 3 points and 60 quid
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Wed 28 May 2003 11:00
Red Light Cameras - Marcos{P}
These cameras are a little dodgy round my way. We have them on the A10 by Cheshunt and if you are waiting on a red and put your foot down as soon as it changes to green you can set the camera off.
I've done it a few times now and wonder how they could prosecute me.
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Wed 28 May 2003 11:13
Red Light Cameras - Altea Ego
www.stvincent.ac.uk/Resources/Physics/Speed/road/s...l
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Wed 28 May 2003 15:25
Red Light Cameras - Cliff Pope
She can go to court, and explain how it was 6pm,
in the rush hour, extremely heavy rain, and given those conditions
was driving too fast to stop at a red light.


Quite so. I thought the amber light was for these "it was safer to keep going" excuses. Red means stop.
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Wed 28 May 2003 16:44
Red Light Cameras - Dwight Van Driver
I would have thought that the camera electronics would be geared to the Amber to prevent excess flashes caused by those who were too near the line to stop and therefore use the defence.

What is the time of an Amber phase - 3 secs?

Vehicle travelling 25mph in 3 secs travels 110 feet.
Reaction time .68 (nat average) vehicle travels at this speed 24.99 ft, leaving 81.7 ft to stop.
Skid to a stop wet road (Drag .8) 25.78 ft.

If the trigger is phased 3 secs after amber goes out then it would appear the lights have been run on amber/red, a practice that seems to be becoming more prevelant.

DVD
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Wed 28 May 2003 17:40
Red Light Cameras - Obsolete
I think the court would argue that she should have slowed down in anticipation well in advance given the weather conditions and the idiot behind. In other words she was going too fast for the circumstances. Sometimes life's a *****.
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