Red traffic light prosecution

boxrick

On occasions I have been literally going through an light and it has turned orange. A driving offense for going through on orange when I first began driving has now made me paranoid of these and often I will stop but overshoot the line rather than go through on orange.

If a I camera got me where would I stand?

Lum

The cameras work on movement and they don't trigger until a few seconds after the light goes red (this can be varied, but 2.9 seconds is common). So long as you come to a complete standstill whilst the light is still orange no photograph will be taken.

Nearly_Old

Lum wrote: »

The cameras work on movement and they don't trigger until a few seconds after the light goes red (this can be varied, but 2.9 seconds is common). So long as you come to a complete standstill whilst the light is still orange no photograph will be taken.

The camera is triggered by movement - usually detected by three closely spaced loops immediately in front of the Stop Line. However the period of grace (from the Red light to the camera becoming active) is a lot less than 2.9 seconds. In congested 30 mph urban areas it can (and often is) 0.5 seconds. There is a notorious junction near to work and a recent new starter recently received 3 points plus a fine for crossing the line 1.8 seconds after the Red light. I've nearly been caught by the driver in front suddenly braking to take what is a sharp left turn with no indicator. I've been left straddling the stop line with handbrake on, selector in park and foot on the brake to make absolutely sure that there was no movement until the lights changed.

The newer MOVA (micro-processor operated signals rather than the older vehicle actuated signals) can be fine tuned to very precise limits.

flyingscotno1

Nearly_Old wrote: »

The camera is triggered by movement - usually detected by three closely spaced loops immediately in front of the Stop Line. However the period of grace (from the Red light to the camera becoming active) is a lot less than 2.9 seconds. In congested 30 mph urban areas it can (and often is) 0.5 seconds. There is a notorious junction near to work and a recent new starter recently received 3 points plus a fine for crossing the line 1.8 seconds after the Red light. I've nearly been caught by the driver in front suddenly braking to take what is a sharp left turn with no indicator. I've been left straddling the stop line with handbrake on, selector in park and foot on the brake to make absolutely sure that there was no movement until the lights changed.

The newer MOVA (micro-processor operated signals rather than the older vehicle actuated signals) can be fine tuned to very precise limits.

The thing always worth mentioning that even 2 seconds after red is a full 5 seconds from going amber. Counting that out it is a long old time.

Lum

Varies by police force as do all these things. 2.9 used to be the default.

Assume zero to be safe.

Nearly_Old

Lum wrote: »

Varies by police force as do all these things. 2.9 used to be the default.

Assume zero to be safe.

Yes its best to assume zero.

Nothing to do with the police now as all new/upgraded installations start with an intensive micro-simulation. The junction is tested for all the various traffic flows, morning/evening peak, weekend flows, local factors such as football grounds, etc, etc. All the various combinations are programmed into the controller and the actual flows are measured by loops in the road. The controller then chooses the best option for the actual flows - it usually only goes terribly wrong when someone uses the manual override!

[Deleted User]

There is a red light camera on a local road and I was behind someone who stopped over the line once. Wonder if they got a ticket. Although the camera never flashed but I'm not sure if red light cameras do?

fivetide

boxrick wrote: »

On occasions I have been literally going through an light and it has turned orange. A driving offense for going through on orange when I first began driving has now made me paranoid of these and often I will stop but overshoot the line rather than go through on orange.

If a I camera got me where would I stand?

You'd be done for it I think. Orange = stop the same as red

Remeber, if you are driving up to a light and it is green there is only one colour it is going to go next so slow it down and be prepared to stop. If it does go orange and you are driving properly you should be able to pull up no problem.

5t.