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Help ! Friday lunchtime I was heading out of London from the St Margarets roundabout. I was the only car at the time as I approached the next set of ( temporary ?) lights. They appeared not to be on. As I got very close I saw the top light go red. (these lights have diffusers on them that point downwards ). I retraced my steps and on the second approach they still did not appear to be on until I was very close ( I was not going quickly on either occasion ). The lights have small black triangular loudspeaker-like "boxes" mounted above them. Are they sensors or cameras? I know there is virtually no defense against going through a red light - but if one could see they were operational to start with it would help!! Any advice/comments welcome....
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Sensors. Supposedly to stick them on green if there's traffic on one side but not the other although on some sets of temporary lights you wouldn't think so!
Even if they were cameras (which they absolutely definitely are not), you'd have a defence. The green light does not work so you'd have "proceeded with caution". Not your fault the lights are faulty.
Not that it applies in your case but I think the red light cameras run through a self test anyway. Not sure how much faith I'd put in them but they're meant to anyway.
The long and short of it is, don't worry.
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Adam {P} Thank you for your quick response. May I ask the basis for your very confident answer ? Less worried than before...
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Don't worry!
As Adam says, the speaker like boxes are almost certainly proximity sensors to pick up waiting vehicles. Red light cameras face in the direction of traffic flow to take two timed images as the stop line is crossed.
Deflectors are often used where two sets of lights are close together (perhaps a pelicon crossing immediately after a junction). Purpose is to stop drivers "reading through" and crossing the junction on red. Idea is that one proceeds with caution up to the second set until the light is visible. In circ like this they can be more of a hazard then a help.
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There are two sets of these 'louvred' lights near my office and both cause total confusion to anyone who is not local.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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>>Adam {P} Thank you for your quick response. May I ask the basis for your very confident answer ? Less worried than before...<<
A nasty experience with a red light camera and furious research preparing my court case despite never getting a ticket through the door!
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