Fixed Penalty Red Lights

olly300

AlexisV wrote: »

Someone close behind you isn't generally a defence for passing through an amber stop light. 9 times out of 10 there will be another car close behind - it's their job to stop, not for you to avoid stopping just in case they can't.

I regularly have lorries behind me on one junction I use regularly.

Sorry if a lorry is too close behind me, and I know how long they take to brake, I'm going through that amber light.

A friend of mine is lucky to be alive after a lorry couldn't brake in time earlier this year.

Polmop

If this was 12 months ago have any of your other points dropped off yet

elektra-2007

I only have 3 other points, they will be off next year, I had just got a new driving job and wasn't allowed anymore than 3 points, when this happened.
I've a new job now so it isn't an issue, hence why I just want it over!

Stigy

AlexisV wrote: »

Someone close behind you isn't generally a defence for passing through an amber stop light. 9 times out of 10 there will be another car close behind - it's their job to stop, not for you to avoid stopping just in case they can't.

I agree that it's the car behind that has the responsibility to be able to safely stop, but I disagree that this is not a possible defense. Just because it's their responsibility to be able to avoid a collision doesn't mean it's SAFE for you to stop. Just because they should be able to stop, doesn't mean they will, and you could still end up with injury etc if they aren't driving with due care, which I'd say is as good a defense as any, especially given the light was amber and not red. That's what amber lights are there for, and without them there'd be anarchy!

As has been said, the same applies to lorries, who obviously have much greater stopping distances in most cases.


To be honest, you should never receive a ticket for going through an amber light, unless a very late amber/debatable red one.


Edit: Apologies for bringing up the amber light debate again....