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

[RJ2023]

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!

You should try driving in east London - utter lawlessness

Driving standards have worsened but its parking tickets and congestion that is the priority 🙄

I can’t say I’ve noticed this with ‘proper’ traffic lights, only the temporary ones they put up when there’s roadworks. But in that case often there’s quite a big gap between the light turning red and the other one turning green, so I can see why people do it.

Yes I've noticed this too here in London....traffic is horrendous near me due to roadworks and ltns..and I think people are getting more impatient. It's pretty scary to see though, especially when it's at pedestrian crossings.

Definitely has become a thing round my way! I think it started after covid…. This morning, on a busy junction near me, I thought I was being a bit rash being an ‘amber gambler’ but noticed at least two cars behind me that must have gone through the red

It's not a thing. People are just being arses. Where I live it happens with unfailing regularity and quite frequent collisions. It's a combination of chancers, boy racers and at night where there's a straight street the brain dead who don't the change in light colour.

When the car behind you is going to hit you if you stop. It's kind of a choose your own adventure driving here.

The ones that get me are the cars or trucks in the far left who realize they have to make a right turn in 10 feet.

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

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.

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

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

It's the same in Kent!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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).

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

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

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.

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

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

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!