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Original poster

AIBU to ask - when did red traffic lights for cars mean you get another five seconds grace period?

31 replies

RJ2023 · 04/04/2025 20:30

Maybe this is an Ipswich only thing - but even on major junctions - driving through red traffic lights seems to be the norm here now, with people taking an extra five seconds grace period after the light turned red and causing people with priority to brake / stop.

I'm assuming there hadn't been a change to the Highway Code / traffic laws that I have missed?

I don't normally support cameras and penalties - but it is getting a bit dangerous here at time. When I lived in Southampton there were red light cameras everywhere!

OP posts:
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ChompandaGrazia · 05/04/2025 06:59

Burngreave · 05/04/2025 00:03

My driving instructor used to call them “Amber Gamblers” although I think you’re thinking of people who go through on red. It’s not just an Ipswich thing.

Back in the days of public information films ‘ambler gambler’ was used on a film.

Burngreave · 05/04/2025 00:03

My driving instructor used to call them “Amber Gamblers” although I think you’re thinking of people who go through on red. It’s not just an Ipswich thing.

luna2025 · 04/04/2025 23:57

nomas · 04/04/2025 23:40

Yes! I’ve started beeping drivers who don’t indicate at roundabouts. Is there a hand motion for ‘indicate, you twat’?

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I drive to Aldi once a week from where I live and it’s a road full of roundabouts, maybe 10 on the way there
Every week I play a game of spot the indicator on the roundabout - I can drive all 10 usually without seeing an indicator

nomas · 04/04/2025 23:40

luna2025 · 04/04/2025 21:32

Indicators especially on roundabouts are very optional here. If you wish to turn off a main road, simply slow down, brake hard and steer because the person behind you is mystic Meg

Yes! I’ve started beeping drivers who don’t indicate at roundabouts. Is there a hand motion for ‘indicate, you twat’?

Saz12 · 04/04/2025 22:41

ChompandaGrazia · 04/04/2025 22:31

People are the problem. Sometimes it’s people on bikes, sometimes in cars, but there are always people.

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Round here, it's livestock. Fences!!! Fix your motherf7cking fences!!!

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 04/04/2025 22:40

Hi OP we've recently moved to very near to Ipswich from Cambridge and the driving in Ipswich definitely seems worse. That might be because Cambridge has really narrow streets plus most traffic light junctions in the city have a cycle box at the front which cars can't stop in.

I hate that junction you mentioned, especially as I'm not familiar enough to know where I'm going! I try to avoid it if possible.

Jk987 · 04/04/2025 22:35

5 seconds is a long time, I think you're exaggerating. I sometimes squeeze through on amber. Would never get anywhere if I didn't!

ChompandaGrazia · 04/04/2025 22:32

RJ2023 · 04/04/2025 21:26

The major junction at the end of London Road (near Sainsburys, Wickes and Glasswells) is the worst I have ever experienced. It needs red light cameras.

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I think the problem there is that there are so many bloody lights. I avoid it if I can.

ChompandaGrazia · 04/04/2025 22:31

ClearHoldBuild · 04/04/2025 22:28

Bloody cyclists.
Oh no, wait…cars are the problem?

People are the problem. Sometimes it’s people on bikes, sometimes in cars, but there are always people.

ButterflyBitch · 04/04/2025 22:30

suburburban · 04/04/2025 22:24

I thought Bristol was very hot on people jumping red lights and there were lots of cameras

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I’m sure there’s cameras but people don’t seem to care. Seems to be happening more recently. When I’m at a junction and the light starts to change and a car coming in the opposite direction sails through. You know they went through a red. I’ve gone through on Amber when it’s just changed and watched several
cars follow me and you know they’ve gone through on red. I don’t think people give a shit. There’s rubbish drivers everywhere, tailgaters, speeders. I had someone trying to overtake me on the smallest road ever just yesterday.
i don’t know how more people don’t kill themselves being complete bellends on the road to be honest.

ClearHoldBuild · 04/04/2025 22:28

Bloody cyclists.
Oh no, wait…cars are the problem?

suburburban · 04/04/2025 22:24

ButterflyBitch · 04/04/2025 21:17

Yep Bristol too. Along with the e scooters and cyclists that don’t stop at red lights either I’m surprised I haven’t witnessed a major accident. Though driving home from work I saw the aftermath of a collision between an ambulance and a car. Wondering now if the car skipped the red light and that’s why they collided.

I thought Bristol was very hot on people jumping red lights and there were lots of cameras

HeddaGarbled · 04/04/2025 22:21

Since they put traffic lights on roundabouts that only let 3 cars through at a time (or only one or two if the drivers in front of you are ditherers).

notprincehamlet · 04/04/2025 22:16

Was it when people became absolute self-absorbed arseholes? Most drivers think the highway code is just something that happens to other people. And vehicles don't seem to be fitted with indicators anymore - I spend a disproportionate amount of my life shouting I'm not Derren fucking Brown at Discovery drivers.

ellyoctober · 04/04/2025 22:15

The West Midlands has some shocking red light ignorers.

Each of them thinking that they are the protagonist and everyone else bit players to their world.

luna2025 · 04/04/2025 21:32

Indicators especially on roundabouts are very optional here. If you wish to turn off a main road, simply slow down, brake hard and steer because the person behind you is mystic Meg

Original poster
RJ2023 · 04/04/2025 21:26

ChompandaGrazia · 04/04/2025 21:05

I’m in Ipswich too. The invisible tow rope is strong here.

The major junction at the end of London Road (near Sainsburys, Wickes and Glasswells) is the worst I have ever experienced. It needs red light cameras.

OP posts:
Bigpinkslippers · 04/04/2025 21:23

Yep same here in lancashire. I've noticed a massive increase in this in the last few years and also turning right from the left hand lane on roundabouts

FannyBawz · 04/04/2025 21:18

Yep, I’ve never seen so many people merrily carrying on through red lights as here. Liverpool.

ButterflyBitch · 04/04/2025 21:17

Yep Bristol too. Along with the e scooters and cyclists that don’t stop at red lights either I’m surprised I haven’t witnessed a major accident. Though driving home from work I saw the aftermath of a collision between an ambulance and a car. Wondering now if the car skipped the red light and that’s why they collided.

crowsfeet57 · 04/04/2025 21:15

It's the same in Kent!

ChompandaGrazia · 04/04/2025 21:05

I’m in Ipswich too. The invisible tow rope is strong here.

HidingFromDD · 04/04/2025 21:03

Last 4 decades at least in Liverpool, don’t stop at an amber light cause the car behind will run into you. Not so much in Manchester apart from some very specific lights in city centre

nomas · 04/04/2025 20:59

We have this in our (very big) town, a 4 way junction. For some reason, the cars from one junction (North) don’t stop when their traffic light turns red and continue for quite a few seconds, meaning cars in the opposite junction can’t turn right because they’re blocked.

It’s a curious phenomenon, a collective refusal to stop. I’ve even tested it a few times to see if their traffic light stays green for longer, but it doesn’t. They just blithely ignore the red light.

Treesarenotforeating · 04/04/2025 20:55

It’s round here as well
its like it’s optional to stop or just sail ( speed) through so many near misses