running an amber

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Tue 18 Jul 2006 17:37
running an amber - limitsthelimit
how's this for bad luck?

coming up to a pedestrian crossing....it turns amber...i'm about 10 feet away...make a split decision and drive through the amber....only to find an unmarked police car on the oncoming lane argh!

i looked into the cop car as it pulled to a halt at the now red light - none of the bobbies seemed to be taking any interest in me....

should i still be worried?

the light was deffo still amber when i went through. normally i stop at amber, but just wasn't thinking at that precise moment.

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Tue 18 Jul 2006 17:39
running an amber - mss1tw
should i still be worried?


Nope!
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Tue 18 Jul 2006 17:41
running an amber - limitsthelimit
cheers for replying so quick!

technically, would the police be required to have stopped me at the scene?

i'm worried they'll see my speeding up to cross the line as illegal - although, i wasn't doing over 30 or driving recklessly at all.

argh!
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Tue 18 Jul 2006 17:43
running an amber - mss1tw
Like you said, they weren't interested. I really wouldn't worry anymore about it - it's far too nice a day!
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Tue 18 Jul 2006 18:02
running an amber - chairmanmatt
I wouldn't worry. It takes 2 police officers to confirm that a driver was unsafe - without video evidence. So it would be your word against his. If neither were looking there is nothing to worry about. I beleive red light cameras only go off on red, not amber. The law stipulates to stop at amber if it's safe to do so. Explain that you wouldn't be able to stop safely if they contact you which I very much doubt.
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Tue 18 Jul 2006 21:35
running an amber - Dwight Van Driver
If the light was at red when line crossed then offence of failing to conform to traffic sign which would require a Notice of Intended Prosecution to be served, either verbally on the driver at the time or sent by post (not second class) to Reg Keeper plus the day of the offence.

Technically speaking there is nothing in England for a single Officer witnessing the incident to follow up by sending said NOIP and request under S172 Road Traffic Act 88 for the driver to be named. Failure to do so an offence. Or, may well arrange for personal visit to report leading to summons.

The circumstances outlined, to me, indicate that this course of action will not be followed and if the offence was that serious to warrant the attention of the Police then a 'pull' there and then would have been on the cards.

The absence of a visit from Plod or brown envelope through the post in 14days to the Reg Keeper will indicate I am right.

dvd
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 00:36
running an amber - Pugugly {P}
It takes 2 police officers to confirm that a driver was unsafe.

Oh ?

Possibly in Scotland.
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 00:40
running an amber - bell boy
exactly what i thought............?
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 00:43
running an amber - bell boy
go to court ..............why should a policeman go to the bother unless he believed vehemntly?

not meant at you OP........ weve all been there and thought i should have stopped but we all know in the real world we couldnt
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 01:27
running an amber - Dynamic Dave
I was once pulled up for running an amber light. Plod told me that I should have eased off my speed as I approached the lights in anticipation that they could well change just before I reached them. Their logic was that if I was going that bit slower I would have been able to stop in time.
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Thu 20 Jul 2006 01:01
running an amber - Pugugly {P}
Case today: Lone Officer on duty in unmarked car (Not Traffic) adhering to speed limits (backed up by vehicle telemetry), overtaken by chav in Corsa on solid white lines. Car turning right in front of Police vehicle. Officer did not follow, NIP'd driver for Dangerous. Conviction for careless on CPS advice. Guilty plea 150 quid fine and three points.
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 08:18
running an amber - L'escargot
coming up to a pedestrian crossing....it turns amber...i'm about 10 feet
away...


If you were doing 30 and only 10 feet away you wouldn't have been able to stop before the crossing anyway. In any case I think you'll find that the green for the pedestrians doesn't light up until after the red for the traffic has lit. (When I'm a pedestrian I try to cheat by watching the traffic lights rather than the pedestrian light ~ I gain a few seconds that way!)
--
L\'escargot.
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Wed 19 Jul 2006 13:06
running an amber - leef
The amber light is there for the exact reason reason you went through it.
It would have been more unsafe for you to slam your brakes on and try and stop in time for the red.
Wouldn't worry about it. Im a bit of an "Amber Gambler" myself :)
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