Temporary traffic lights... stuck on red?

[stuart]

Hi

Now, I know that going through a red light is illegal, quite rightly, but today I had an experience with a set of temporary traffic lights at some road works....

As I approached I could see that the light my side was red, so I stopped at the sign, at this point I was the only vehicle.. this sign was about 30/40 feet away from the red light... but as I should, I stopped. I must have sat there for about 3-4 min and they were still on red (although it did feel a lot longer) by this time 4-5 cars has appeared behind me, still on red...

Just the other side of the sign, about half way between me and the red light, there was a left turn, this would be almost in line with the red light. A car was waiting to turn left, same direction as me... All the time we were waiting, only 2 cars came through the other direction, with quite a while between them..

The car waiting to join the road at the junction, proceeded to pull out, lights still on red, and go through... At this point, as the road is a side road, and it was fairly quite, I proceeded across the red light with care, and through the area they had been working, looking in my mirror the cars behind me were still sitting there, but as I got through the light the other side was red also... So, I suspect they were not working correctly...

Now, as I said going through a red light is a no no... and I cannot remember the last time I encountered a red light stuck... but, the more I think about it the more I think... "did I do the right thing"?

What are you comments in this situation? I know I did break the law, so no lectures please.. .but as I say, they were red as I approached, and still red 3-4 mins later...

Thanks

Stuart

[zollaf]

what are you meant to do, wait at them stuck on red until ?? well, until the red bulb blows, or until the workmen turn up the next morning.

[stuart]

I asked for that

[Brycie]

Yeah absolutely I'd say. You know when a long wait is abnormally long and you just have to make a decision to go. The only option is to wait til you see a car coming the other way stop, but if that doesn't happen within 3 or 4 minutes then illegal or not, a common sense decision has to be made based on the fact that the lights are clearly malfunctioning. The only thing I'd maybe do in addition is pull over, look for a helpline number & report the fault.

[stuart]

The only thing I'd maybe do in addition is pull over, look for a helpline number & report the fault.

Never though of that at the time I have considered reporting this to the council, but by the time they read that then it will be too late anyway... it would be in the morning...

Just hope one of the cars that did appear behind me whist I was waiting does not report me......

As I say I could see they were on red as I approached, and I did sit there with no one behind for a while... only 2 cars came the other way with a good 20-30 seconds between them...

No excuse, a red light is a red light, and being an "advanced motorist" I should now better, but after 4 mins waiting, although you know this does seem like hours when you are waiting, with nothing going on from the other direction, I suspect a fault......

[Brycie]

It's the way you can feel the eyes burning into the back of your head from the drivers behind you. Then you're trying to guage how long to give the lights without waiting so long that everyone behind you piles past leaving you there like a numpty. That's how I was feeling anyway when the same thing happened.

[stuart]

It is the thought that someone behind thinks "I will report that mad ******* when I get home"....

[zollaf]

are the lights registered ? your local highways dept will tell you. if not, then they are un enforceable, apparently.

Temporary Traffic Lights - Law: England & Wales - PoliceSpecials.com Forum

[AN AUDI FAN]

Hi,
Just seen this post so decided to put my 2P in,probably too late but anyway - you can't be prosecuted for jumping red light on TEMPORARY traffic lights.
I work for traffic management company so this is for sure.
Good practice is to pass roadworks with maximum care then stop on other side,look for emergency number on lights and report them broken.If that number cannot be reached - report them to police on non emergency number.This will make everyone's lives easier.

[MFGF]

Hi,
Just seen this post so decided to put my 2P in,probably too late but anyway - you can't be prosecuted for jumping red light on TEMPORARY traffic lights.
I work for traffic management company so this is for sure.
Good practice is to pass roadworks with maximum care then stop on other side,look for emergency number on lights and report them broken.If that number cannot be reached - report them to police on non emergency number.This will make everyone's lives easier.

Really? That's intriguing! Many (many many) years ago I went through a set of temporary traffic lights as the lights were changing to amber. A police panda car was parked in a side street just before the lights, and came screeching out of the side street after me, by which time the lights must have been red for him. He pulled me over and booked me for running a red light. I insisted the light was yellow, but he was adamant I went through on red, and wouldn't hear otherwise. I got three points and a fine. I was young and naive back then - these days I would insist it goes to court if I found myself in a similar situation.

MF.


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