I’m led to believe that you cannot be done for a speeding offence from a Gatso on the opposite carriageway.
Is this the same for traffic lights?
I only ask, as heading into Hounslow on the A4 on Friday, one of those touch and go situations where I actually thought I’d passed the point of no return.
As always, I checked my mirrors, just in case there was a camera, (admittedly I’d have stamped on the anchors, and overshot the white line a touch) but I couldn’t see one, so I continued. Next thing, a flash went off on the other side of the road (just a single one) there was nothing going through the lights there.
It would need to take 2 pictures in order to prove you were not stationary.
As for it being on the other side of the road, how can it see what colour your traffic light is if its looking at the back of the traffic light box?
I’m led to believe that you cannot be done for a speeding offence from a Gatso on the opposite carriageway.
Is this the same for traffic lights?
I only ask, as heading into Hounslow on the A4 on Friday, one of those touch and go situations where I actually thought I’d passed the point of no return.
As always, I checked my mirrors, just in case there was a camera, (admittedly I’d have stamped on the anchors, and overshot the white line a touch) but I couldn’t see one, so I continued. Next thing, a flash went off on the other side of the road (just a single one) there was nothing going through the lights there.
Am I looking forward to 3 points?
i think you are
Traffic light cameras don’t work quite the same as normal gatsos .They are only active when the lights are red and are operated by 2 induction coils under the tarmac .moving across this wire sets the camera off only when the lights are on red after a preset time (usually about 2-3 secs) .You may have missed the first flash because you weren’t looking ,the first set of coils are before the white line and yes they can be placed to detect traffic on the opposite side of the road (camera facing you)
here’s a nifty bit of info for you on how all cameras work i have linked to red light cameras for you but you can click on left for all other types ,may dispel a few myths around speed cameras
Six times I wrote this out to make sense of how/why it happened (paying particular attention to detail so that the “TN absolutely perfect never put a foot wrong driving team” couldn’t pipe up with some stupid argument saying you should of handled it better / correctly) that isn’t covered by technical post above.
It comes down to this, when approaching lights as a driver we make a decision that it is safer and better to keep going. That point is further away in a lorry than a car for any given speed. When a car/van driver does it at the same point we do, it’s deliberately crashing the red light either due to excessive speed (can’t stop) or the desire not to be inconvenience by stopping (won’t stop).
If the tickets are given out by someone who analyses the situation then you should be OK, if it’s done by computer you will have to make a decision to fight it or not.
I was descending a rather long hill into Sheffield once when I fell foul of a Traffic Light camera. I was fully loaded with 80-foot steel sections and was taking things very slowly as I was about to make a right turn into my delivery point. As my cab passed the lights they turned to amber. Due to my slow speed and the length of the vehicle the lights had turned to red before the rear end had cleared the “stop” line. The camera flashed and I was prosecuted. I went to court to plead my case and explain the situation but was told that it was an “absolute” offence, therefore there was no defence.
Sixty quid and three points.
PaulNowak:
Was going to happen at some point. I’ll just take it on the chin.
If you haven’t heard anything by thur/friday then forget about it the ticket tends to come through in about 4 days and a manual examination may come down on your side ,it does happen sometimes
m1cks:
It would need to take 2 pictures in order to prove you were not stationary.
As for it being on the other side of the road, how can it see what colour your traffic light is if its looking at the back of the traffic light box?
Do you actually think the cameras ‘look’ to see what colour the traffic light is?
Dear oh dear!
PaulNowak:
Was going to happen at some point. I’ll just take it on the chin.
If you haven’t heard anything by thur/friday then forget about it the ticket tends to come through in about 4 days and a manual examination may come down on your side ,it does happen sometimes
Off this week, but I’m sure I’ll get collared when I go get my keys on Friday.