Safe Speed Forums

This question must have been asked before, but I can't see it.

What's the legal position on jumping temporary traffic lights? You know the situation: light on red, obviously nothing coming...

If temporary traffic lights are deployed in accordance with the regulations then ignoring them is an endorsable offence.

If the 'when red light shows wait here' sign is missing then it isn't a set of traffic lights in law.

If the traffic lights are not working correctly then it isn't a set of traffic lights in law. Believing they aren't working would seem to be a reasonable defence.

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Paul Smith
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The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Thank you, Paul. So, "I had been sitting with the lights on red for what seemed like several minutes; I could see clearly past the obstruction and there was nothing coming; The lights should have changed by now; I assumed they were stuck and proceeded smartly but cautiously through the road works."

Would that stand up?

This is only in theory - I haven't actually been done. But everyone must have come across this scenario before. There are few repair schemes more irritating than a badly-phased set of TTLs holding you up for no reason.

A couple of years ago I encountered a set which stayed on red for what felt like half the morning. When they eventually changed, I drove the length of the restriction (it was on a bend, so no temptation to jump them) only to find no road works whatsoever, or even sign of road works. The only obtruction was the lights themselves!

I'd rate that as 'probably'. Which isn't very helpful really.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Just happen to have been reading the TSRGD and wondering about traffic lights with no white lines...


The very last paragraph there seems to imply that no stop line or sign is required at all. (I have chopped out quite a bit of text which may also be relevant)
Which is odd because I'm sure "there was no stop line" is a defence used against red light cameras.

So driving through a red light is usually £60 + 3 points, or something like that... Which begs the question what is the punishment for unplugging roadwork traffic lights? (and I ask that from a purely legal point of view)

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Andrew.

Good question, Ziltro. Probably some wierd charge like "endangering other road users".

How long before this gvt passes a law against "taking the law into your own hands"? IE doing what any normal, rational person would do in the circumstances.

Can anyone identify the source of the devastatingly accurate quote: "It is reaching the point where ordinary people cannot go about their daily business without breaking the law"?

What we really need is some sort of regulation on the temp light provider to ensure that they work all the time. In warks i find that any problems with road works and the highways team do look at it and if necessary will call back, sometimes going to site ,unannounced to check up .They welcome feedback from drivers - possibly other LA are the same.

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

back "home" und in France - they all change to flashing ambers during the night. It work quite well really as everyone apply the cautions und the COAST approaches.

But if tempo light sticks... Ist surely duty of care on part of road repairers und council /Highways Agency wallies to check in working order...but last time we encountered this - one us called police to report und were told to "go through if clear" Have asked lieber IG about this... und he say "probably would treat with his discretionary power based on actual occurrence und length of the sticky red und whether or not reported as well" Ist not then crystally clear - even to those enforcing these laws.

But in answer to "deliberately unplugging" - ist act of vandalism und with a possiblly direst endangering consequence - so I think would be viewed as most serious matter by courts unless of course vandal ist illiterate chav pikey with taste for hard drugs und deprived background ... in which case the poor little dear cannot help it...

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Temporary light times are set so a cyclist can cycle right thru the roadworks before lights change at the other end (obvious really) and hardly unnecessary delay.

Never met anyone who stopped at a GREEN temporary light 'in case it wasn't working'

Unplugging temp lights serious criminal offence, under road law and health and safety law.

All TTL control boxes have an emergency tel.No. on them if they don't work do your bit and call the number and tell them.

After postings like this is it any wonder roadworkers accept cameras on site, and roadworks are (some think) over long and under used by the workforce.

If you want them to change for you as quickly as possible, aim your car directly towards lights so the radar on top 'sees' your car and triggers the sequence.

fatboytim

My experience most of them don't work --even seen them (especially late at night) where you have to move about to get them to work.
Add that to the amount of conesleft out / road signs left after work completed and the general wolf crying and a lot of the stupidity at road works - the general takeover of an area like cowboy workers and then you start to see why the motorist thinks "con" -

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

All I can say is that it'sset for the most unfit then



Have to agree there - mate.




Only a fool would dispute this - Wildy did not question this - bu we were told to go through when one of us phoned to report a "sticky red""



Passed one today and made a point of looking.... no number given...



Hah - we tried this ... does not work - espeicaily if driver at other side does same thing,.... which could just be why they stickl

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Thought it was just me - but then radar device usually pointing at low flying aircraft .

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

Cones and lights are often left up when works have 'finished' to allow concrete to repaired manholes/ gullies to set (do you want to wreck your car), and workers have better things to do watch concrete set.

I'm very surprised there was no number on the light control box as 90% are from hire Co's and they love using their logo/advert stickers on them.
I think there is a requirement for the maintenance number as it if there is a failure it pees off the police if they have to stay direct traffic.
Admittedly some hire companies hire out poorly maintained kit, a 10 minute check in the depot doesn't replicate a night on site in heavy weather.

I have put forward the solution elsewhere in here, close the road completely while works take place, this is without any doubt the safest solution for both workers and motorists.
Which would you prefer a 5 minute wait at temp lights or a 1, 5, or 10mile detour.

fatboytim

In fact, in France temporary lights are either red for stop or flashing amber for proceed with caution in the daytime as well.

I was under the impression (but stand to be corrected) that passing a red light, temporary or otherwise, unless directed to do so by a uniformed policeman will earn you 6 points on your licence. Which makes it a pretty serious offence in the eyes of the law.