When to go through Red Traffic Lights?

dacouch

adamc260 wrote: »

I always thought if you were at the front at a red light you had to pull out the way... I'd feel a right !!!! sat there with an ambulance or the po po sat behind with the blues on!

It's why they switch the sirens off when they are stuck behind traffic at lights, to prevent them jumping the lights and causing an accident

asbokid

thelawnet wrote: »

I saw a police car approaching, within the speed limit, from the right, visible through the bushes.

What were you doing in the bushes?

And crucially, what was your excuse for being there?

"I'm just adjusting my Lycra tights, officer"

Flyboy152

rev_henry wrote: »

The emergency vehicle itself is allowed through the red light, but joe public is not allowed to do the same to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle. I think that's what the OP means.

And I think the OP would be wrong.

thelawnet

Stigy wrote: »

Of course the reality is, even if a Police car or other vehicle turns the lights off after heavy traffic or similar, chances are it's due toa cancelled call, rather than just them wanting passage through heavy traffic, as it often looks like. Not sure if that's what you refer to, but an important note nonetheless I guess! Uusally they turn off the road before switching the lights off due to the general presumptions!

Of course, abusing the blue lights would be more than their job is worth I'd imagine!

It wasn't heavy traffic the road was clear. It wasn't the normal lights, they were slower than usual.

It was done to stop me pulling out, and he turned it off as soon as he passed me, several hundred metres before the traffic light at the end of the road.

Parva

With regard to the original question I would hope that anyone with half a brain would do all they could to allow the emergency vehicle to get through, I certainly would and will! Hell, let them take me to court for moving beyond the border of the traffic lights to let that fire engine through that's ultimately saving the lives of several people, ditto ambulance and even the Police.

I'd like to think that if my family were trapped in a burning house they would get rescued by the fire service in time and not perish because some idiot was worried that the traffic light camera might catch him over the line and initiate a fine.

rev_henry

Parva wrote: »

With regard to the original question I would hope that anyone with half a brain would do all they could to allow the emergency vehicle to get through, I certainly would and will! Hell, let them take me to court for moving beyond the border of the traffic lights to let that fire engine through that's ultimately saving the lives of several people, ditto ambulance and even the Police.

I'd like to think that if my family were trapped in a burning house they would get rescued by the fire service in time and not perish because some idiot was worried that the traffic light camera might catch him over the line and initiate a fine.

I'm afraid people have been taken to court and lost. Hence why I wouldn't. Not until the law is changed.

Road_Hog

Parva wrote: »

With regard to the original question I would hope that anyone with half a brain would do all they could to allow the emergency vehicle to get through, I certainly would and will! Hell, let them take me to court

And take you to court they will and you will lose unless a policeman has specifically asked you to go through the light. There are court cases to prove this. Also, what happens if another car hits you? Yes you will be responsible for jumping a red light, not the other driver who has gone through a green light.

I had a police Volvo come up behind me at the A404 approach to the M40 High Wycombe roundabout. The lights had just gone to red, I was first in my lane and all the other lanes also had cars. He sat behind me with Blues & Twos on for the whole minute it took the lights to change, it seemed an eternity.

But not my problem, if he wanted me to 'legally' move then he should have gotten out of the car and told me, at which point I could have taken his badge number. I'm more than happy to do my civic duty, but only when they change the law, so that it is legal.

My view is that they should change the law, so that sirens and lights should be switched off at traffic lights behnid vehicles, but if the emergency services wants to instruct you to move, then they leave the lights and sirens on.

Flyboy152

rev_henry wrote: »

I'm afraid people have been taken to court and lost. Hence why I wouldn't. Not until the law is changed.

Really; who? Because, as far as I am aware, an exception is allowed for this.

Flyboy152

Road_Hog wrote: »

And take you to court they will and you will lose unless a policeman has specifically asked you to go through the light. There are court cases to prove this. Also, what happens if another car hits you? Yes you will be responsible for jumping a red light, not the other driver who has gone through a green light.

I had a police Volvo come up behind me at the A404 approach to the M40 High Wycombe roundabout. The lights had just gone to red, I was first in my lane and all the other lanes also had cars. He sat behind me with Blues & Twos on for the whole minute it took the lights to change, it seemed an eternity.

But not my problem, if he wanted me to 'legally' move then he should have gotten out of the car and told me, at which point I could have taken his badge number. I'm more than happy to do my civic duty, but only when they change the law, so that it is legal.

My view is that they should change the law, so that sirens and lights should be switched off at traffic lights behnid vehicles, but if the emergency services wants to instruct you to move, then they leave the lights and sirens on.

Which ones?

Outpost

It seems to me that if you go through a red light while trying to let an emergency vehicle through and inadvertently cause a collision with another car, possibly even a fatality, they won't be holding the emergency vehicle responsible.