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Ran through red light - any help please!

I had a car right behind me earlier when I was driving back and as the lights went orange I decided it would be unsafe and carried on, passing through just a second before the lights went red! Completely my fault - the car behind had more time to slow down and stopped before.

I've had a check on a red light camera map (https://www.speedcameramap.co.uk/) and I believe there is a camera at the road I went through the red light. Does this guarantee I'll receive a letter and fine? Obviously it's completely my fault and I've learnt from the experience - is there any argument towards it being unsafe to slow down? It was a 50mph road and fairly quiet.

Thanks

Reply 1

AdamCor

I don't know if it's guaranteed to catch you on the camera, but I believe you're fine if you've already passed the line while the light is amber (I've been told if your back wheels are past the line by the time the light is red you're fine, but I haven't read anything about traffic light laws so it's just hearsay to me).

Reply 2

AdamCor

Yeah that's why I didn't really believe it, but I feel it is a bit of a grey area, if the light goes amber and it's unsafe to stop you should go through the amber light, but if the light changes to red while you're halfway across the line it's not an offence, but it is an offence to fail to stop once the red light has shown regardless of how far past the line you are (as long as you're not completely past the line, because then you're just driving normally). So it is a bit weird. Looking here http://www.motorlawyers.co.uk/offences/traffic_lights.php it says there's no defence for running a red light, but the defence of using the amber + unsafe is fine as long as you can prove it.

Reply 3

Rayzor97

Thank you for your reply. I've checked over Google maps and it was one of these cameras facing towards me https://img.sabre-roads.org.uk/d8472c793b4ebf4937c469700658f657042be2ac/687474703a2f2f7777772e6e6f70656e616c7479706f696e74732e636f2e756b2f696d616765732f32373830342e6a7067. I didn't notice a flash at all and I've heard it's pretty obvious if you do get flashed.

I believe I passed the line while the lights were red, but they had only just gone red.

Reply 4

Rayzor97

After reading about the camera it appears that it's a rear-capturing camera that uses either sensors or lines in the road. There were lines on the other side of the road - I'm just worried since the camera was in the middle between the two roads. Do you think I'll still have been caught?

Reply 5

J0n3zviper

Well if its one of those yellow cameras it's definitely some form of driving enforcement camera and not any type of traffic flow sensor. I would have thought it was a speed camera on first appearance. I don't think this is a red light camera, I think it's a speed camera, were there any camera warning signs? You said you checked that camera positioning site, did it confirm the location?

Reply 6

Rayzor97

Original post by J0n3zviper

I didn't see any traffic warning signs, just average speed/speed signs. This is the location https://www.speedcameramap.co.uk/index.php?lt=52.66830691937961&ln=-1.2422946095466616&zm=18. I'm confused as the camera was facing towards me and on that website they've placed the symbol on the other side of the road.

Reply 7

J0n3zviper

Original post by Rayzor97

Don't think that means anything tbh I doubt that positioning is accurate. I doubt you got caught anyway half these cameras are dummies tbh. I guess all you can realistically do is wait, I thought I ran a light a few weeks back but touch wood not received anything and it's approaching the 14 days. You didn't see a flash so it's a good sign. I get the worry, I've only been driving 4 weeks and I fear going through redlights and speed cameras accidently but truth is you just gotta do your best. I am strict sticking to speed limits. Download an app called Waze it will show you where all the cameras are

Reply 8

IWMTom

Amber means stop if it's safe to do so.

Reply 9

RoyalSheepy

Original post by Rayzor97

If it were facing you, you won't have been caught. Speed Curb cameras can only capture offenders from the rear of the car.

Reply 10

RoyalSheepy

Original post by J0n3zviper

Speed cameras can be doubled up as red light cameras using the loops embedded in the road used for speed checks.

Reply 11

Soteria3

Original post by Rayzor97

You may or may not get a ticket but its a good thing you learnt through it. You should have started slowing down if you see a crossing, it's a healthy manner