Feel sick with stress, incident at traffic lights with man in a van

[H1900]

I am shaking. I was just driving home from the supermarket and noticed this van driving very close behind me. It was making me really uncomfortable and I sped up slightly to get away from them but didn’t want to speed. There was a set of traffic lights ahead and they started to turn red as someone pressed the crossing and I panicked as I didn’t want to stop with the van so close behind me so I carried on going. I went through and they were absolutely definitely on red. Will I now get a fine? Does anyone know if I will lose my licence? I can see conflicting information online. I’m a lone parent and feel incredibly worried as I have no support to take dd to activities etc

It depends if there was a jump camera on the lights.
I assume you've got no points on your license currently. If not, you won't lose your license for jumping lights, but you will receive points and a fine.
You can see jump camera locations online.

Extremely unlikely that there will be a red light camera present but even if there is then it’s £100/3 points, so unless you’re currently on 9 points then you won’t be losing your licence. Don’t sweat.

You won't lose your licence for going through a red light. If there were cameras on the lights, you might get a fine or points. The police won't be kicking your door in to arrest you.

If someone is driving aggressively behind you the safest thing to do is just carry on as normal. Don't speed up, don't jump red lights. If you really feel intimidated, pull into an area with people around (petrol station, supermarket, etc). Don't open your door or windows, and phone the police.

Hi OP. Please don't worry. I believe the fine will include 3 points (if you have been caught). Unless you already have 9 points on your license (or 3 if you have had your license less than 2 years from memory) then you will keep your license and will still be able to drive your DD around.

You won’t lose your licence. I once went through a red light (no excuses other than being stressed and distracted with a child yelling in the back) and I was convinced I’d get a fine or points - and if I did, I deserved them.

I didn’t, and have never done it again.

When you get free time go back and see if there's a camera on the lights. If not then you're lucky and got away with it. If there is then it's £100 and 3 points disclosable to your insurer but not the end of the world

I hate this, some drivers are so dangerous, hope you are OK.

I have gone back for a photo. I couldn’t see anything big but there was definitely a small black box with a tiny red light on it which seemed pointed at the actual crossing itself rather than the cars coming in or out of it if that makes sense. Here is the photo

You'll be fine, don't worry about it

Anxiety is horrible. I promise you’ll be fine. Even if you do get caught, which I’m sure you haven’t, you’ll most likely be sent to a road safety course or fined and potentially 3 points. You won’t lose your license (unless you are on 9 points already)

That looks fine. The box you describe may be traffic monitoring.

A red light camera is usually a few feet back from the lights and is a large rectangular box on a pole

If someone behind is aggressive slow down. Do not speed up.
But most you might get a fine and 3 points.

I've accidentally gone through red lights a couple of times and never had consequences, never even occurred to me to worry. I presume only major junctions are likely to have cameras.

As others have said, there won't be any serious consequences even if it has been recorded.

Doesn't look like there's a camera. If there is and you've been caught, you will get the option to go on a drivers awareness course, which if you attend, discharges the offense with no points etc. Its not the end of the world.

I know I didn’t handle it well bit I was panicking as he was spending up right behind me then backing off over and over.

Speeding *

It doesn’t look like there’s a camera but if there was then as long as you don’t already have lots of points, you won’t lose your license.

You were being ridiculous and potentially dangerous. Just lock the doors next time.

If you were caught on camera it's just a fine or a safety awareness course - latter better as you don't get points on your licence, which affects your insurance for years to come. Ask me how I know....

The box pointing across the road is part of the pedestrian crossing, I believe (have accidentally jumped a light myself once with the same box with a red light and I remember the anxiety it was a camera. Only when I went back did I realise it wasn't pointing down the road but across it)

Do you have support for your anxiety? You seem very panicked by the whole thing, which is really quite minor in terms of both probability of consequence and severity of consequence.

Is it a driving related stress or an all round stress you’re feeling? Hope you’re ok. Cup of tea, have a sit down.

Feel such an idiot. I’m usually so careful. I am very overwhelmed at the moment and this has just tipped me over the edge. How long until I know for sure is it two weeks?

Don't speed up because you are being tailgated, it won't help,the other driver will probably just speed up too. It might make you feel uncomfortable but they aren't going to ram you, you should keep your eyes on the road ahead rather than be distracted by the vehicle behind.

If safe to do so I usually slow down so that they can overtake me safely and then I don't have to worry about a tailgater.

@StillweriseLH thanks. I’m usually quite a robust driver and things don’t bother me but this van was so so close. I’m very stressed with work at the moment too and it just feels like the last straw

Probably about that. But assuming you haven't done a safety awareness course already in the last few years, you will be offered one in the unlikely event you were caught. Think they're on zoom now. Mine was 3 hours (with not enough content to fill the time) plus about 45 minutes travel each way, so it was a bit of a pain.

@H1900 All depends if another driver had a dashcam and reports you.

I know plenty of people who report others dangerous driving with their dashcams, all police forces have online portals where you can upload dashcam footage.

It makes the roads safer for us all, so it does not matter if there was no camera on the lights. They have around a month to submit it and a further 14 days to see if you get a NIP.

I know I always report people who run red lights, sorry but roads are dangerous enough with people who deliberately put others at risk especially innocent children.