Help. Went through red light to let police car through..

[Thingymajigii]

Two lanes of traffic waiting at a red light. Police car comes through the traffic, blue lights on, all cars parting behind me to let it through, gets to me and car next to me won't budge an inch so it was down to me to move out of the way and the only way was to go through the light. I did stop very shortly after going through in a safe place, not obstructing any other traffic.
I think the lights had a camera on it.
I don't have any cameras on my car so I cannot prove that I was letting a police car through.
Any advice or previous experience with this one?

It doesn’t matter if you were letting it through - the only time you can go through the red is if a traffic officer was directing you to. A police car coming up behind you with its blues on doesn’t count. You should sit there at the head of the traffic and move over when it’s safe to do so

What about the situation where it IS safe to go through even though the light is on red. And arguably a police car sitting behind you beeping and flashing blue lights is a sort of command

Source?

If you triggered a camera then presumably the police car did too. Hopefully you have grounds for appeal should it get that far. Or be offered a course.

I'm pretty sure I've had to go through a red light before in the same situation. It was clearly the expectation of the police car behind me! I guess it didn't have a camera on because nothing happened, but surely if it did have a camera it would pick up the police car going through straight after you?

This was my take on it too. I saw something last year about it. If you run a red light/go in a bus lane/do any other traffic violation to let an emergency vehicle by you are at fault

A camera is going to pick up the police car too surely? Therefore there would be grounds to appeal if you did get a ticket.

Highway Code Rule 219 - Highway Code

This is what I've read and I'm panicking. It was safe to go through the light and I stopped immediately after, so still waiting for the light to change but about a metre over. But they were edging forward so I assumed that's what they wanted me to do.
I have a history of trying to do 'the right thing' and getting shafted for it so anticipating the worst!

This might be helpful. There isn't a clear answer.

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ask-the-police/question/Q699

The only experience I've had with this was a friend who got a penalty notice for going through a red light to let an ambulance through. He didn't get off. It's worth appealing as it's possible that they might take the circumstances into account, but it's not very likely you will get off.

Still isn't 100% clear to me

I did the same once, completely forgot the lights had cameras on despite the millions of massive warning signs. That was months ago and I never heard anything.
it doesn’t mean you won’t, just that it’s not inevitable.

You’ll get lots of people lecture you about how you shouldn’t have done it but personally, if I see blues and twos behind me at lights and the only way to move out of the way is go through a red light then I will.
I’ve been the person in the back of that ambulance trying to get through so maybe that changes my perspective on priorities.

Sadly the law says you shouldn't break a traffic law to let an emergency vehicle pass. It requires them to wait until you can clear the way legally in accordance with traffic laws. If you get a fine, of course you can appeal, but highly unlikely you'd be successful. The police driver training (like fire engines and ambulances) requires them to wait for as long as it takes and in the meantime to turn off their siren/horn so as not to intimidate the drivers in front into breaking the law.

same when i read it, it didnt mention the traffic lights, its very puzzling one

Thanks for sharing

The offence is going through the red light.
It can be a mitigation that you were permitting the police to pass, and even better if they gave additional signals to you - such as their blue lights were on but not sounding, then with you staying still they sounded their siren etc

The police are also by default not permitted to speed or pass through red lights and may need to justify their actions in doing so

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225

Rule 219 covers allowing emergency vechicles to proceed, but whilst obeying road signs

219 Emergency and Incident Support vehicles.You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or traffic officer and incident support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you

A bit different but last year I pulled over into a bus lane to let an ambulance passed and I heard nothing about it, I assume the cameras can see the circumstances and make allowances.

My son went through a red light to allow a fire engine through and appealed and they let him off

Keep an eye out for letter asking who was driving. It'll take a week or so. You might get a Fixed Penalty Notice - a fine and points on your licence - but not everyone does. In the meantime, you can check your licence details on gov.uk to see if one shows up there.

The traffic officer AT THE WHEEL of the police car was directing the OP to get out of the way.

"Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs."

'While complying with all traffic signs', to me, reads you shouldn't go through a red light.

I'm pretty sure I would have though... 😬

fair points

Agree with the above.

You do not go through a red light just cos some blue light is behind you. Ever. They should turn the siren off so as not to alarm you or coerce you through.

The fella I watch on YT said only go through if motioned by a policeman. For me he would need to get out the car and tell me to move. PP is just making assumpions the driver told them to move. OP hasnt said this.

Wouldn't matter if you did as still against the rules. My aunt got fined despite the ambulance blue.lights being in the fine photo unfortunately