Unintentionally went through a red

[Tagaagajavdv]

Hi

I’ve moved to a brand new city and stupidly whilst driving think I went through a red. I can’t be certain as to whether it was outright red as it was orange when I was going through but definitely turned red.

It was in ‘a traffic enforcement area’ so I am fully expecting to be fined/points. I even went to slow down for it but the car behind was quite up my tail so I didn’t feel I could safely stop without causing a crash. The car behind did stop but right at the line.

I’ve looked it up and it’s £100 fine and 3 points which last 4 years which in the scheme of things is quite light really. But I am mortified and feel bad. I’ve been (the only one) sticking to the speed limits but this was just me being stupid really.

I don’t even know why I’m posting but does anyone know how long it takes for the fine/ letter to come through?

Many thanks

We've all done it

You won't be ticketed for that. First off all there would need to be working cameras at the junction and generally there aren't. Also if it was just changing it is safer to proceed than stop suddenly. I used to drive around with police officers a lot and it was one of them who told me that.

I’d go on street view and check if there are any cameras there. Not those small CCTV type camera (those are sensors). Look for big yellow box like that things.
How do I know all this ? I accidentally jumped a red once and panicked all weekend.

but the car behind was quite up my tail so didn’t feel I could safely stop without causing a crash.

We've all done it.... But own it - don't make excuses based on the car behind you......chanced it and lost

It might be an enforcement area but they probably didn't have a camera on the lights - you'd have seen a flash if there was

There's a latent period of 3-4 seconds after going red before enforcement starts, for cases such as your own where you're already committed and slamming brakes on could cause an accident.

If you get a fine, you get a fine, and will just have to suck it up. If you didn't cause an accident, just chalk it up to experience - you'll probably be paying a lot more attention next time you approach traffic lights.

Most drivers have been through a red light at some point. I did when I went back home, at a junction which could always be a bit tricky. "That's sensible," I thought, while checking all approaches to the junction, and seeing no other vehicles, carried on over, before thinking, "ah, red light, now there are lights there...."

thanks everyone

I realise it was my fault not the car behind @andivfmakes3

i've done that..got fined and points it was an error of judgement on my part.,No one was hurt. .learn and move on.

well you've given yourself a scare so presumably won't do it again!

New area/ traffic lights are a pita, a town local to us has a whole flight of them...three sets all within spitting distance, and the middle set has three lanes (two ahead, one right) and more often than you'd expect someone at the middle set will be watching the ones further along and since the lights are not in the least bit synched they go haring off from their red light when the end set go green leaving the pavement side lane and the right turn lane gawking in horror at each other! :o

Also there's a very confusing set that replaced a double mini roundabout in a local city... the position of one set implies they control traffic, but pretty sure they are really for visibility for where you have come from, since it totally makes no sense at all to stop there. I try not to go that way just in case I cock it up and bring the city to gridlock.

@WhipperSnapperSteve uhhh... that's what the amber light is for. By the time the light goes red, everyone has had plenty of time to stop!

I paid to do an awareness course so didn’t get points.

Thanks everyone, I certainly won’t do it again but having googled how these things work I think the chances of me getting a fine is high, but I’ve learnt from it.

It was a junction so although it wasn’t red going through the first set of lights, it definitely was at the second set.

Awareness courses don’t exist in Scotland yet

It’s extremely rare that you can excuse going through a red light. I had to do an awareness course and someone on there went through a red light so an ambulance could get by.

As a gesture of kindness they allowed him to do the course rather than fine him - hardly a kindness when we all got that option.

Just learn from it.

Yes I will (and have) learnt from it

I do not expect to be excused from it if I am issued a fine and 3 points

However when I went over the stop line the light was orange, it was whilst I was clearing the junction it turned red. So I am unsure as to whether I will receive a notice or not.

We will see. Allegedly it takes 2 weeks. If awareness course was an option I’d take it but it isn’t.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) needs to be issued within 14 days of the offence to be valid. If you haven’t received anything after the two weeks you’re fine.

Its the colour of the light when you cross the solid white line at the light that matters, not when you clear the junction. If it was Amber when you crossed that line you have nothing to worry about, that's legal.

I’ve done it loads of times as I get mixed up with green and red. (Colour blind amongst other issues)
I have never had a ticket.

@Bythemillpond

I’ve done it loads of times as I get mixed up with green and red. (Colour blind amongst other issues) I have never had a ticket.

Not sure you are safe to drive if you can't identify traffic light signals, surely?

@Piffyonarockbun

Its the colour of the light when you cross the solid white line at the light that matters, not when you clear the junction. If it was Amber when you crossed that line you have nothing to worry about, that's legal.

This.

As long as it was amber when you started to cross the line, you're fine. I've crossed the line as it turned red, but as it was amber when I crossed, it was fine.

If you're already going through when the lights begin to change, it's generally safer to keep going than it is to slam on the brakes.

@Bythemillpond

I’ve done it loads of times as I get mixed up with green and red. (Colour blind amongst other issues) I have never had a ticket.

Then I would say you're unsafe to drive, to be quite honest - that's shocking.

Traffic lights are always in the same order - red, amber, green. How do you get those mixed up?

I once had a panic because I was at a junction with two sets of lights for going straight on and going right. The lights changed for going right and the car in front of me went straight on, and I followed and the realised we'd both gone through a red.

Fortunately there were no cameras (and no other cars around).

I do think some junctions can be quite confusing.

I think the fines have to come within 14 days. Try not to worry OP!