will I be fined?

londonTiger

IndigoUK wrote: »

Yesterday in central London, when I approached a traffic light in close distance, I saw it turning orange. Given the decades of driving experience (not in London to be honest), I calculated that I could speed up (not more than 30-40mph) and pass it. However, that particular traffic light turned IMMEDIATELY into red within fractions of second! So I ended up passing it while being red!

1) Will I be fined? Are all traffic lights in central-ish London monitored?
2) Can I raise a dispute about this, based on that particular traffic light turns red immediately after turning orange?

Any advice?

red light cameras are used in certain hotspots where it's common for drivers to jump the red (and ususally when jumping the red will make the situation very dangerous/gridlock). Think of a 6 road junction like the one near stpauls for instance.

Having said that I did (foolishly) jump a red light in blackfriars not so long ago. It was really badly judged and I knew just before passing that I misjudged it but my only recourse was to slam on the brakes hard or just carry on. I chose to carry on and then stop at the junction anyway (passed the pedestrian crossing but stopped just before the yellow boxed junction).

Technically I did jump the red light and I also noticed that I got flashed too. But I wonder if the CCTV operator gave me a break because I did stop just immediately before the junction but not at the red light.

I was lucky enough to still have a clean license as technically I should have 3 points and my bank deprived of £100 by now.

shaun_from_Africa

IndigoUK wrote: »

My point is that they should allow a proper time before making an orange light go into red. They cannot simply make the light go from orange into red within 30msec, while the average in other lights is 2sec. There should be some set time to turn an orange light into red and I guess they violated it by far.

And everyone else's point is that you should not have sped up in order to go through an amber light.
Irrespective of what other drivers might do, after "decades of driving experience", you must know what an amber light means and it doesn't mean accelerate to get through before it turns red.

dacouch

IndigoUK wrote: »

My point is that they should allow a proper time before making an orange light go into red. They cannot simply make the light go from orange into red within 30msec, while the average in other lights is 2sec. There should be some set time to turn an orange light into red and I guess they violated it by far.

The amber light will be displayed for just under 3 seconds before changing to red.

You would have 120+ feet from it displaying amber before it changes to red.

Traffic Lights are designed to switch themselves off totally if they malfunction.

Incidently you need to be aware that many traffic lights now have combined red light cameras and speed cameras to catch people who speed up to jump amber / red lights

angel_of_dartford

Hi Indigo,

What was the road name and EXACT location please ?

barmonkey

londonTiger wrote: »

Technically I did jump the red light and I also noticed that I got flashed too. But I wonder if the CCTV operator gave me a break because I did stop just immediately before the junction but not at the red light.

More than likely no film in the camera

dizzybuff

There are two types of camera. Relight cameras which are film operated and red speed cameras that are both red light and speed. There are other cameras such as travelling and spec cameras etc but these are the main ones. Oh and the big gatso cameras which can be digital or film. If the camera flashed twice. It has taken your registered and expect a ticket within 14 days. You may be lucky and there be a discrepancy on the film and it's not processed. Red speed are lazer cameras and don't need a loop and red light are loop operated. If you went over the line after red ( amber stage 3 seconds) ypu will get a ticket. Dependant on the force in ypu went over the line more than 5 seconds after red you will be summonded to court, so.it's a waiting game now.

dizzybuff

@London tiger it is more than likely they couldn't process the film as there was a discrepancy or read the reg as the cameras do not flash if there is no film in, they are programmed not to.

londonTiger

barmonkey wrote: »

More than likely no film in the camera

film? lol lol

bigjl

londonTiger wrote: »

film? lol lol

You do realise that not all speed cameras and red light cameras are digital?

shaun_from_Africa

bigjl wrote: »

You do realise that not all speed cameras and red light cameras are digital?

Just to back this point up with proof about cameras in London. (which is where the OP had their incident).
https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2014/september/tfl-upgrades-london-s-safety-cameras

upgrade replaces wet film with digital cameras and brings technology up to 21st century standards

The first of the new digital cameras now on street, with 600 further cameras to be replaced by October 2016

Transport for London (TfL) has begun work on a programme to overhaul the capital's road safety camera network, replacing hundreds of old 'wet film' cameras with modern and more efficient digital safety cameras in order to help further reduce casualties on London's roads.

TfL and the Metropolitan Police have now replaced and commissioned the first 28 of 250 red light cameras at traffic signal junctions across London. In addition to enforcing against "red light running", these new cameras can also monitor and enforce against vehicles breaking the speed limit while going through green traffic lights, helping to further improve safety at junctions where the risk is higher. Further sites will be commissioned in the coming months, with all 250 upgraded by October 2016.