When to go through Red Traffic Lights?

DaveF327 · 9 May 2011 at 5:41PM

To answer the OP's actual question, it does not matter whether the police officer is in a car or on foot; providing he (or she) is in uniform, you must comply when they direct traffic.

A bit of forward planning means you can still allow emergency vehicles to pass without running red lights or crashing up high kerbs. I've never had to do either yet.

Stigy · 9 May 2011 at 5:57PM

thelawnet wrote: »

I did have a police car annoy me a few weeks ago - I was approaching a 30mph A-road in a residential area from a side street, preparing to turn left into the through road. I was doing about 20mph on my bike and saw a police car approaching, within the speed limit, from the right, visible through the bushes. I had plenty of time to pull out but the police car put his lights on a sort of slower speed, I wasn't sure what was going on so I stopped at the give way line. When he passed me he turned them off!

I caught up and passed him at the traffic light at the end of the road, I'm not really sure whether he just didn't want the annoyance of having a cyclist in front of me, or if he was warning me because he thought he and I would reach the junction at the same time (in that case him slowing down would have been more appropriate I think).

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!

Enfieldian · 9 May 2011 at 7:03PM

Good luck getting a "Badge Number" off any UK officer as well OP.

Last time someone asked for one of those the reply was "Sorry mate, I'm not in the NYPD....."

rev_henry · 9 May 2011 at 7:24PM

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Hmm.....always thought that was an exception. I have never seen a blue light sitting at a red light waiting for it to change.

ETA: I thought I was correct:

http://www.ukemergency.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=61

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.

wazza · 9 May 2011 at 8:49PM

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.

That is what i meant

Gavin83 · 9 May 2011 at 8:54PM

I've never been in the situation to be honest but there is no way I'd drive through a red light or damage my vehicle to allow the emergency services through. I really don't want to risk getting a ticket or have to repair my car regardless of who it is.

Mankysteve · 9 May 2011 at 9:17PM

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,

Sometime they do approaching a suspect they don't want speeding off. Blue and twos to clear the traffic then off to approach a bit more discreetly.

Stigy · 9 May 2011 at 9:29PM

Mankysteve wrote: »

Sometime they do approaching a suspect they don't want speeding off. Blue and twos to clear the traffic then off to approach a bit more discreetly.

Indeed, same for many 'silent approach' jobs, without wanting to sound too much like Hawaii Five '0', such as hostage situations.

Just pointing out that sometimes it appears that they're just using them to make their way through traffic, when in reality they probably aren't...

adamc260 · 9 May 2011 at 9:57PM

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!

Yorkie1 · 9 May 2011 at 10:15PM

Scooby_Doo. wrote: »

Read reasonable excuse.;)

The fact you would be forced to break the law is reasonable enough.

Absolutely right.

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/public_order_offences/#Venue

When to go through Red Traffic Lights?

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