Temporary red lights & the law?

ben501

Got stuck at some temporary traffic lights this morning (both on red), which I eventually passed, in my opinion, by breaking the law. Many others who use the route obviously did the same, but opinions on the legality of passing the light vary.

I can’t find anything (Highway Code or other government sites) that specifically relates to temporary lights, so assume they are covered by fixed light rules.
Some agree that yes, it’s illegal, but the police would likely take a ‘mitigating circumstances’ view.
Others are adamant that it’s legal (but are unable to provide evidence)

Can anyone confirm (with a link to an official page) what the legal status is? There are so many opinions out there, but so far I’ve found nothing to back them up.

Car_54

The relevant regulations are The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002, see http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/3113/contents/made

These make no distinction in operation or effect between permanent and temporary lights, so there is no difference in law.

Regulation 35 specifies the size etc. of temporary lights, and regulation 43(3) covers the absence of a stop line for any reason.

TadleyBaggie

Ask on Pepipoo, plenty of people on there with knowledge of motoring law.

Silver-Surfer_2

The offence of contravening a red light signal is contained in s. 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. Regulation 10 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 specifies which signs come within of s. 36.

Reg 35 provides for "Portable light signals for the control of vehicular traffic". So as long as they comply with the requirements of Reg 35 they are enforceable under s. 36.

facade

Provided that they have applied for the relevant permit, tempory lights are the same as fixed ones, except the STOP line is an imaginary line drawn across at the "Wait Here" sign.

There is no set time in law after which you can decide that a red light is faulty, (obviously a red+green would be faulty) so you can be prosecuted for passing one full stop.(unless directed to do so by the list of authorised people starting with Police) You would show your dash cam footage with the timestamps showing you waited 10 or 15 minutes in court as mitigation (or call loads of witnesses).

I've always thought the best plan would be for a hooded mystery figure to simply go and turn the light round, or unplug it, then the light is faulty and traffic can proceed using common sense, with about 1/500th of the delay.

giraffe69

I've always thought the best plan would be for a hooded mystery figure to simply go and turn the light round

not everyone carries the necessary gear in their boot.

unforeseen

Supermarket carrier bags with eye holes can be substituted

facade

unforeseen wrote: »

Supermarket carrier bags with eye holes can be substituted

At 5p a time, surely not :cool:

Although I did manage to exchange a couple of bags for life that were ripped to shreds, the cashier asked if The Dog had got them (she had)

I don't know the penalty for interfering with the signals, but I bet it isn't 3 points like driving through the red light

misterbarlow

A lot of the ones with the little sensors on the top can be tripped to turn green for you by repeatedly flashing your main beam very quick as you approach it.. the sensor interprets this for flashing blue lights and automatically turns green in that direction!!!

Fat_Walt

That's the technique I use when I have an important client on board.

splishsplash

misterbarlow wrote: »

A lot of the ones with the little sensors on the top can be tripped to turn green for you by repeatedly flashing your main beam very quick as you approach it.. the sensor interprets this for flashing blue lights and automatically turns green in that direction!!!

I'm suddenly really tempted to drive the 30 miles to the nearest set of traffic lights just to try this out:rotfl:.