police fine

Mark_Hewitt

Amber means stop. In general you are permitted go to through if "pulling up would cause a danger". In reality in the UK you don't get prosecuted for going through anything other than a red light.

And the police didn't "come out of nowhere", they were there the whole time, unless they can bend the laws of physics.

Coopdivi

As a pedestrian I am familiar with the procedures when it comes to traffic lights. 2 cars are permitted to go through a red light, 5 or 6 during rush hour.

Cyclists must use the pavement when the lights are against them although they can turn left at any time.

OP, I suggest you ask this question on the Motoring board. You'll get a better response over there.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=70

barrow_matt

Surprised by some of the responses, no where does it say you have to slow down when approaching a traffic light.

The question is was there reasonable stopping distance available when the light turned to amber, unless there is a camera it's your word against theirs. Were there 2 officers or 1, I seem to recall that can make a difference.

Going through an Amber light is always going to be borderline. If you really want to contest it and are local to the location go and measure the amber light time, work out in that time how much distance you would cover driving at the speed limit, then check the highway code typical stopping distance at that speed and see what percentage.

80km/h is 22 metres/second, typical stopping distance at 80km/h is 52 metres in dry conditions. So it will take approx 2.5 seconds to stop. If the Amber light is on for 5 seconds there is a 50/50 chance of you being in a position to stop.

McKneff

Amber means 'Prepare to Stop'

Obviously the driver wasn't prepared to stop.:rotfl:

(note to self - never laugh at your own jokes)

4743hudsonj

McKneff wrote: »

Amber means 'Prepare to Stop'

Obviously the driver wasn't prepared to stop.:rotfl:

(note to self - never laugh at your own jokes)

Actually in the UK highway code it means stop unless you have crossed the line before it changed it if you are so close that to do so may cause an accident. Speed is therefore irrelevant and peoples comments on slowing at any lots is plan wrong and also against the advice of the highway code. Obviously if you can stop do so nut sometime its just plain stupid.

Obviously this could be different in oz

Searcher

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine when I used to live in Aus
The officer told him that the reason he pulled him over was because the lights were on red by the time he exited the intersection.

Takoda

I love the thread title

"Police fine"

Good to know someone's supporting our boys in blue (or boys in shorts in this case lol)

Can we have "Firemen fine" and "Paramedics fine" next please?