Gone through the red light. What can I expect?

[ginandtonicinthegarden]

I'm a very careful driver. I've ever had any fines (apart from a parking one). Anyway, I went through a very busy junction, 5 lanes, lots of cars, getting in the right lane, look up and the light is red as I'm driving through. Such an idiot!
What can I expect?

Almost certainly nothing. Most places don't have cameras.

Nothing, you made a mistake, presumably nobody died and you probably won’t do it again.

Judging by the number of cars which go through lights around here, I think you’re fine ☺️

If there were cameras and you went through it well after it changed to red you may end up with a £100 fine and 3 penalty points. Happened to my DH.

If there was a red light camera you'll get a ticket within a week. If a week passes and you've not received anything you can put it out if your mind. It's the only part of the police that works super-efficiently.

I was cycling towards a red light this morning when a driver drove past me and went straight through. I think it's safe to say they're not sitting home worrying about it this evening...

Naughty naughty DH

If you were caught on camera (I was). It’s a choice of :-

1. driving course (you pay, but no fine or points)
2. £100 fine and 3 points
3. go to court and contest it. Not sure what the course costs - going to look into it.

@GreenLunchBox Indeed. As he was driving my car and denied all knowledge to start off with!

Thank you so much for responding. It was a major junction so I'm sure there are cameras there.
So £100 + 3 points 🥴

www.warwickshireworld.com/news/crime/warwick-man-sentenced-for-careless-driving-after-an-incident-with-a-cyclist-in-bishops-tachbrook-3768315

op this man pleaded not guilty - even though there was video evidence proof that his overtake never happened! he was offered a course to help with his driving but declined. Cost him £1200 and 3 points

I doubt you'll decide to take the matter to court, and get retraining etc

I won't plead not guilty because I know I made a mistake 🙈

I'll pay the fine if it arrives...

Unless it flashed you're probably fine. Most of them flash quite obviously if there's a camera.

Google it (or check your sat nav) and see if there's a red light camera there. Probably isn't. They are really rare - hardly any major junctions have them.

Worst case - course instead of points. Fine. No biggie

I've done the same, busy junction with cameras but nothing ever came of it. I assume they were switched off.

I'll confess - I am not a massively careful driver and it is very obvious when the lights flash at you.

I've done the 'Be a better driver course' more than once - it's pretty good as I generally don't have points so clearly I learn for long enough until the next one!

Even at major junctions the odds are in your favour.

If you are unlucky, as you have no points you will probably be offered course instead of points - you would obviously be an idiot to take the points instead of the course.

I'd not lose any sleep over it either way. When a colleague owned up she had to head off to do the course, it turned out all of us had done it. It's very common if you drive enough.

Thank you all! Feeling a lot better now 😊

Probably nothing, I went down a one way street right infront of Police Head Office never heard a thing about it. Cars were tooting at me and I was mortified I did not realise that it had recently become one way.😱

Haha, did he try to claim it wasn't him but when you checked there was a photo of him? I know someone who was caught out like that

That happened to me once 😭
The look of horror on the oncoming vehicles faces is etched in my mind!

@GreenLunchBox We worked it out together as we had the date of the offence and he was at a gig. The kitchen calendar gave the game away!

If you've gone through ON red, you will be fine. If you've gone through AFTER red you could be facing a fine/points.

In my area there is literally 2 places there are cameras in the whole city so don't worry too much

Just because it was a major junction doesn’t mean there are red light cameras there. There are about three red light cameras near where I live and not one is on a major junction.

Look, you made a mistake while driving. Thousands of people make mistakes driving every hour of every day. Fortunately, you didn’t cause an accident or have one so you chalk it up to experience and move on. There’s no need for weeks of self-flagellation (unless that’s your bag).