Ticketed for Amber Light

Of course we all do it - especially when turning right. If the traffic nazi's ticket you for this, they must really be desperate to fill their daily ticket quota.

One of the few things that they have got right in the US is the (legal) ability to turn right when the traffic lights are showing Red. Very civilised way to do things!

Cheers

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Exiled Highlander:
One of the few things that they have got right in the US is the (legal) ability to turn right when the traffic lights are showing Red. Very civilised way to do things!

Cheers

Jim

That's the equivalent of turning left, right?

Steve

quote:

Originally posted by Yo-yo Master:

That's the equivalent of turning left, right?

Steve

Umm, yes, I think, at least in the northern hemisphere...

Norman

Well according to the road code, amber light in essence means stop if it is safe to do so.

What the hell does this mean in practice. Traffic today move at such a pace that if you were to blink, there will be dire consequences. So back to my point, stop if you can only applies if the bugger behind can also stop and not tailend your car were you to stop. Terefore most of the time we are safer to go through amber just to avoid a tailend collision. Any advances?

Steve

quote:

That's the equivalent of turning left, right?

You got it...if you get to lights and they are red you can, in most states, legally (unless signed otherwise) turn right if it is safe to do so....it works well for the most part.

Cheers

Jim

One thing that screws me everytime when I first take off in the hired car after arrival in the US. The tendency to put the traffic lights on the other side of the junction from the stop line. Mostly over here the traffic lights are coincident with the stop line.
So there I am slightly jet lagged barreling towards a set of red lights aiming to stop as normal when I get to them, when... "Oh Shit"... if I do that I am going to be in the middle of the junction. Loud squeal of brakes and suddenly I am wide awake again !!!

BTW the "turn right on red" works great, just watchout for the odd pedestrian crossing on his green "WALK" sign.

regards
Geoff

Geoff

quote:

just watchout for the odd pedestrian crossing on his green "WALK" sign.

Been there and done that on both sides of the fence...it wakes you up for sure!

Cheers

Jim

quote:

My fellow colleague was ticketed after his shift for going pass an amber light! How many of us do it after waiting in a queue and when it is our turn the damm lights go amber!

Has he actually been zapped for failing to conform to an amber light, or a red light and your friend/colleague is disputing this?

Not suggesting anything, just getting clarification, that's all.

regards

andy c!

quote:

Originally posted by andy c:

... actually been zapped for failing to conform to an amber light....

Fined for not stopping, for an amber light. It is in the road code, so no dispute, just lots of swearing and cursing.

I'm not saying any more, other than common sense obviously prevailed...

If I were to run an amber because the car following behind by my judgement, had I stopped will definitely rear end my car, a plausible defence?

indeed it is....

...but if the officer has done the evidential points to prove of this offence correctly, this aspect of your suggestion should have been covered...

Given that it is always a judgement call on the part of the driver, I fail to see how a prosecution can be secured for passing an amber.

I guess it's worth telling the cop to shove his ticket where the sun doesn't shine and going to court.

At last my troll under the bridge didn't give me a ticket...

quote:

Given that it is always a judgement call on the part of the driver, I fail to see how a prosecution can be secured for passing an amber.

Pulling out at a junction also requires judgement but if you get it wrong you can be done for careless driving (or something).

quote:

Given that it is always a judgement call on the part of the driver, I fail to see how a prosecution can be secured for passing an amber.

Traffic law is finniky sometimes, but the issue above is not dissimilar to the original one you posed, steve, in that how much anticipation was there that the lights were going to change. I mean, its not as if if you don't approach such a junction with due care and attention its beyond the realms of possibility to realise:
"those lights have been on green for some time - I may have to brake cos they may change - oh there is something behind me so I need to take that into accout"

It's one thing to discuss the need for a prosecution to ensue, another entirely to make assumptions when we don't know the facts.

With the reduction in overt policing of the roads (I am talking about actual officers to do this - not machines), has come a far more lax attitude to traffic signs, with the resulting increase in AIC's no doubt. IMHO of course.

andy c!

quote:

"those lights have been on green for some time - I may have to brake cos they may change - oh there is something behind me so I need to take that into accout"

So, applying the same logic, you'll agree with the following:

"those lights have just changed to green on what has become a familiar set of temporary traffic lights, so being the driver of the car following another two promptly pulling away, I can assume they are still green as I cross the line denoted by a twisted red sign held down with a sandbag, and focus my attention on hazards ahead including workmen, negotiating the hump in the middle of the coned off section, stray cones etc."

The issue with your comment is the assumption re the colour of said lights when in fact a glance at them would confirm their colour.

I am being finniky, but then again often being finniky avoids being placed in certain situations...

andy c!

M,

you have e-mail!

andy c!