What do you think of Elon Musk? Have your say | No thanks
Traffic frights
I was reading through one of your website posts about traffic lights as I have a concern myself. I've been told not to worry but as I have only been driving for a year not worrying is very hard to do. I was approaching a junction doing 50 or less in a 50mph zone. As I was approaching the traffic lights were green, I saw them turn to amber but by the time I got there doing 50 it would have meant coming to a screeching halt and there were cars behind me so I decided to keep going. The light changed to red just as I crossed the line and I am now very concerned I have jumped a red light especially as I saw that the light in question has a grey camera on top that faces the direction in which I was going. Can I expect that dreaded letter through my door?
Asked on 29 May 2010 by LB, via email

Maybe, maybe not. They usually make an allowance of about a second. But the police can take the view that if a light has been green for some time you should anticipate it changing to red and should prepare for this by slowing down. I have been campaigning for countdown signals on red and green lights, as used in Thailand, Canada and other countries but to no avail.
Similar questions

Can you let me know if one can legally go through a temporary red light at a road works that is failing to change to green and there is no oncoming traffic?

Swansea City Council has recently fitted a red-light camera to a 40mph section of road. The time that the lights are on amber seems very short, especially if you are travelling at the speed limit. Recently,...

I have been sent a NIP for "driving through a red light". I approached a pedestrian crossing and the pedestrians crossed before I got to the lights and they went to red when the pedestrians were safely...