When is a red light not a red light?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 13:45
When is a red light not a red light? - frostbite
Got plunged into a potentially interesting situation the other day.

Crossing a dual carriageway at traffic lights on a staggered junction there is a centre holding section, still light controlled, before you can cross the opposite carriageway.

Having been stationary there for 3-4 minutes, the traffic lights failed!

After a few more minutes stuck in this central reservation we began to cautiously edge out and, not wanting to die there, made our escape.

These lights have cameras - bet they hadn't failed! - so, can you be done for crossing a red light when there isn't one actually showing?
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 13:51
When is a red light not a red light? - teabelly
I'd make a note of the time, date & exact location in case a NIP arrives in the post. Perhaps it might be worth advising the local constabulary as the lights could have easily got stuck on green and the dozy would just drive on through regardless and cause a pile up. If they still try and prosecute then they're clearly off their heads and should be ridiculed publicly.

The red light camera should take a picture of the whole scene including the traffic light which is controlling you so in theory you should be fine as the picture will show no red light on the camera therefore you can't have gone through a red light.
teabelly
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 13:53
When is a red light not a red light? - Clanger
This is the highway code page
www.highwaycode.gov.uk/signs01.shtml

My interpretation; no light = no signal therefore no offence.

Goodness knows what the NIP generators would make of it.
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 14:22
When is a red light not a red light? - Frankoids
If the lights had failed it does not mean the sensors have so you could well get a NIS, but there must be a work order record to fix the lights which you could find out from the council/highways agency.


Also if the lights had failed on there must be a legal means of proceeding, you can't stay there all day, common sense must come into it? (Note question mark!)

It was raised earlier in another thread, but not answered, what is the legal position re moving forward across a stop line to make way for emergency vehicles? The emergency vehicle could well be quite a few cars back so may well not be on the film.

Happy Christmas All!
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 16:15
When is a red light not a red light? - Robin Reliant
The photo HAS to show a red light in order for a prosceution to succeed. Without that the prosecution cannot prove their case. As regards crossing a red light in order to let an emergency vehicle through, there should be no problem. You may pass red with reasonable excuse - which this would be - or with lawful authority. Any camera at the junction would also flash the emergency vehicle as it went through, providing you with your evidence.
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Fri 24 Dec 2004 16:27
When is a red light not a red light? - Adam {P}
Frostbite,

I wouldn't worry - especially over Christmas. The photo a Red Light Camera takes shows how long the light was on red for so this would back up your story if it ever did get as far as you needing to have a "story" if you get me.


--
Adam
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