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On my route to work through chelmsford there is a tight bend with a set of lights immediately after it. There is a camera on them and I inadvertantly went through the amber this morning, my mate was in the car and didn't see a flash but i wasn't sure, i think i may have seen one (or could be a car pulling up at the lights behind me and my active imagination) this got me thinking: if i did get done, what would be the effect when i renewed my insurance? (i have 3 years no claims and an otherwise squeeky clean licence.)
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You would notice the flash and it won't have flashed UNLESS you passed the stop line AFTER the lights had turned to RED.
Also, they flash TWICE, so that the plod can prove that you were moving and weren't just caught in the middle of the junction (eg in stationary traffic or waiting to turn) when the lights changed.
If you honestly went through on amber, they didn't "get" you. If someone else went through behind you, they probably got them instead.
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>>You would notice the flash and it won't have flashed UNLESS you passed the stop line AFTER the lights had turned to RED<<
In theory, yes. However, I've been flashed on amber a few times because sometimes they can cock-up. Fortunately, these photos should get binned from what I've been told as someone has to look at them. The photos state how long the light was on red for so you'll be fine.
I know your mind can play tricks on you but as LondDriver said, if someone else was behind you, they will have got them instead.
Also, even though you haven't been done, you need to tell your insurance company straight away as opposed to renewal - at least for something like a traffic light offence.
I've been flashed on green once too!
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Adam
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If it's the one at the end of Broomfield Road coming onto Parkway I can sympathise, my son got done there years ago.
However, I would argue that there is not sufficient time to respond to those lights as it is a 40mph speed limit and because it is a tight bend the lights do not come into view until you are within the Highway Code stopping distance from 40mph.
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And they will argue that 40 is a MAXIMUM limit and that you should always drive at a speed appropriate to your surroundings and visibility.
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And they will argue that 40 is a MAXIMUM limit and that you should always drive at a speed appropriate to your surroundings and visibility.
Wheres the fun in that?
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>>However, I would argue that there is not sufficient time .....
Ooh, good defence that - "
not my fault m'lud as I was driving sufficiently fast that I couldn't stop in time. Still, go easy on me, stroke o' luck it wasn't a kid, eh?"
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Fair comment, but if you saw the actual layout, it's a right angle right turn bend with a dog-leg i.e. the exit is offset a couple of feet past the 90 degree point, and heavy traffic.
If in the inside lane you tend to be checking that the vehicle outside of you has done the extra turn and isn't straying into your lane. Even when doing well under the posted limit, by the time you're sure you're in the clear and look at the lights you are less than 20 yards from the traffic lights.
Well under the 75 feet Code stopping distance from 30mph, let alone 120 feet required from 40.
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Well under the 75 feet Code stopping distance from 30mph, let alone 120 feet required from 40.
So take the corner at 20?
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>>So take the corner at 20?
Absolutely - you're treating 40 as a target, not a limit.
You need to be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear in your lane - speed limit is irrelevant here.
-Mark
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Nelly
You sure that Highways Authorities haven't put up a warning sign of lights ahead before the bend? Sounds like in the interests of road safety they should do?
Now, if you are the registered keeper of the car then nothing received after 15 days from incident then smile. No NOIP no prosecution ?
DVD
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[quote]If it's the one at the end of Broomfield Road coming onto Parkway I can sympathise, my son got done there years ago.
However, I would argue that there is not sufficient time to respond to those lights as it is a 40mph speed limit and because it is a tight bend the lights do not come into view until you are within the Highway Code stopping distance from 40mph.[/quote]
Brian, that's the one! That has caught out very many people in the past. Basically unless you don't know the road well, you round the bend and don't see the lights until it's too late.
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However, I would argue that there is not sufficient time to respond to those lights as it is a 40mph speed limit and because it is a tight bend the lights do not come into view until you are within the Highway Code stopping distance from 40mph.
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/09.shtml#105
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