Idiot Drivers UK - Drivers Caught Going Through Red Lights 

Thanks Martin 👍

Ever driven a bus? Not easy at traffic lights.

In these cases, depending upon the persons record of penalty points, the driver may be offered a driver improvement course as an alternative to penalty points.

Doesn’t sound like a problem.

Me too, I saw a bus full of passengers being driven through a red light on Saturday. Driver didn’t slow at all

The offence is called an “absolute offence” which means all the police have to prove is that you crossed the line while the light was on red. Even if a camera captures this, there’s still a process to decide if it is worthwhile prosecuting the offender. A couple of years ago a case against a learner driver was thrown out when the magistrate saw the learner driver had only crossed the line by 1 metre. So a prosecution COULD be sought but it is unlikely in my opinion.

That’s correct, but you’ll spend the next 14 days wondering if a Notice of Intended Prosecution pops through your letterbox.

@@StudiditSee the footages sent in, do the people in them get done for it? Is it just uploaded to RU-vid or is it also sent to the police?

@@akj2387 just uploaded to RU-vid. Any footage submitted to the police mustn’t be on social media as it can be detrimental to a prosecution

If you’ve already crossed the stop line, there’s no offence committed with regards to a red light offence. The decision to continue through is very much based on the circumstances. If you’re queueing you may wait if you can do so in a safe position. You have to consider pedestrian safety if you’re waiting on a crossing area. You have to consider the vehicular flow from opposing flows and whether you’re creating risk for them or yourself. If waiting within the junction and you would be blocking the flow, you may continue through the junction with caution.

The NIP - notice of intended prosecution is sent within 14 days. To put your mind at ease, if possible, check if the lights actually have a red light camera

@@Studidit I actually went back to check and I’m not sure what I should be looking at? Like what is a red light camera? I know most traffic lights have some sort of little cameras at the top but people always drive past the red lights and nothing happens so I’m not sure if those are red light cameras or not

@@Yankzzster the little black “cameras” are actually traffic light sensors detecting approaching traffic to change the lights. The red light camera are usually yellow and look similar to a speed camera

@@Studidit cool so I went back and the yellow cameras were speed cameras,

But I’m not sure if they are also red light cameras? It’s the square yellow ones

You can decline the initial penalty take the case to court, but you risk an increased fine and penalty. If the notice of intended prosecution was issued within 14 days of the alleged offence, and they have the vehicle on camera going through the red light, I’m not a legal expert, but as I understand it, you’re onto a loser and without special mitigating circumstances, such as allowing a blue light vehicle through, it’s not worth the risk of losing.

@@Studidit What happens if the NIP does not come within 14 days?

@@k9koulla415 there’s lot of advice for legal experts online. From what I understand, the prosecution may be void.

When approaching the crossing you could’ve anticipated the lights changing by recognising the presence of the pedestrian who had requested the light to change. Knowing that you were being tailgated and that you were approaching a crossing, especially where it is likely to change, you should have anticipated the danger and slowed down well before in order to avoid a rear end collision. The lorry was only a”foot” off your bumper?? and you couldn’t stop, but the lorry did, sounds suspect. I wouldn’t rely on that as a defence in the unlikely event that you receive a notice of intended prosecution. In the future if you’re being tailgated, increase the space ahead of you. You are in control of the space in front, the following driver is in control of the gap between you. You have no control over this, except by giving yourself more time to anticipate danger and use your brake lights earlier and gradually reduce speed.

That’s correct. There’s no exception for turning on a red light as there is in some of the states in the US

They purposely keep you guessing

@@Studidit what doss that mean 🤣

You should be okay, correcting your mistake as you didn't go too far into the junction to cause an obstruction. Problem may be though, red light cameras. They will get you if you cross the white line. You could try and argue it with, you didn't go far and corrected the mistake by reversing to behind the line but it wouldn't be in your control.

Is there a red light camera at the junction?

​@UDIDIT if there isn't cameras, does that mean no fine or prosecution.?

@@dopethings9328 if there’s no camera, a police officer only has to witness the offence. With the number of dash cams now fitted in vehicles and the option to provide video evidence, who knows who’s likely to report the offence? You’ll never know until the notice of intended prosecution drops through the letterbox.

That include murder

@@paulnicoll1791, murder generally isn’t a traffic offence, so they will actively pursue a suspect on that one. Extradition sought et al.

The ticket could be issued. Sounds to me that if a ticket is issued, you may be offered the alternative to a penalty, which is attending a driver improvement scheme. This doesn’t result points on your licence

@@Studidit I feel a bit relaxed to hear from you. thank you. I'll be more careful 🙂

Regulations mean at every traffic light the amber is on for three seconds (+/- 0.25secs). Awareness, anticipation and planning on approach to a traffic light should include thinking how long the green has been showing? Is there any vehicles on the side roads or pedestrians who’ve triggered the lights to change? You should pick a point where you get to which means it’s too late to stop safely. Remember amber means the same as red, except if stopping would cause a collision or you to stop over the stop line. Lights at many junctions change in sequence as you pass through. If you pass the first set on late amber, you’ll get to the next set on late amber or even early red. If you pass the first set on late amber, you should be preparing to stop at the next set rather than rushing to beat them changing.

Sounds likely you got away with that one!

Very similar to speed cameras - painted yellow (mostly)

@@Studidit Thank you for replying! So the black boxes on top of the traffic lights are only sensors then? There is a roundabout a few miles where I live which has traffic lights everywhere, basically at every entrance and every exit and within the roundabout but i see no yellow cameras. In fact none of the traffic lights even have that sensor on top of them. It’s all a bit confusing. There is a what is labeled a “crime prevention” camera as it is quite a dodgy part of town but it is so high up and can not see the red lights as it is so high. That’s the only camera I can see.

@@anonymoushuman8962 the little black ‘cameras’ are microwave sensors picking up approaching traffic to manage traffic flow. If these aren’t there, there’s magnetic wires, called an inductive loop, buried in the road surface which also act as sensors (look a little like #)

@@Studidit I see. I didn’t see any markings on the road either. However, can they catch you going through a red light on their own or do they just act as sensors? Sorry for being pedantic it’s just I like to understand so I can make sure I am ok in the future as I am a relatively new driver. Am I right in saying that those black boxes are only sensors and the markings under the asphalt are only sensors too and can not take photos of your reg plate?

@@anonymoushuman8962 you’re correct in saying the black boxes and inductive loops are only there as sensors. They can’t take images for prosecution. The vast majority of traffic light junctions don’t have any red light cameras, they’re usually installed at problem junctions where there have been lots of collisions. Don’t forget though that a police officer only needs to witness you crossing the line on red, no other evidence is required. Also, there are now millions of vehicles fitted with dash cams and many police forces allow video footage to be uploaded for them to use for prosecution. The best approach is to anticipate the lights changing. If they’ve been on for some time and you see vehicles or pedestrians or cyclists waiting at the side roads, these have triggered the sensors and the lights could change soon. Be prepared to stop, and on approach, consciously make the decision that it is too late to stop. This decision is based on your speed and the conditions. If you’re familiar with the overall stopping distances in the Highway Code, use these as a guide.

That sounds like a driver who isn’t planning for the lights changing and being a reactive driver not the proactive driver they should be. Fortunately most lorry drivers are aware of the distance they’ll need and make allowances for this 👍

No part of your vehicle can legally cross the line on red. You’ve left it too late

@@Studidit No, it is only a penalty if you start crossing when the light is already red

@@VR-lc8he No part of your vehicle must cross the white painted stop line when the red or amber lights are illuminated Regulations 33 to 52 of the Traffic Signals Regulations and General Directions 2002

Specsavers

@@1harryrobert 🤣🤣🤣

Just obey the rules

USA bag if donuts 🍩

Ah, is that where the term “red hot” comes from? 😅

The duration a traffic light is on amber then red is set in regulation. This doesn’t vary. A good driver of any vehicle type will be aware they have been approaching a green light for some time and will be anticipating the change. If they haven’t been able to see the light, they should be anticipating it changing and reduce speed, ready to respond. Any sudden stop will be down to poor awareness anticipation and planning.

Sounds like you’re perfectly qualified to join Deliveroo.

a human life or pollution 💀💀💀 are u even educated?

@@Studidit 🤣🤣🤣

and who does he hire in his place? Nobody wants to work in this country. People prefer to live on welfare.