saturday i was driving along a 40mph road and approaching some traffic lights that have the camera just before it for people going through red. the lights were green for quite a way before it so i dropped to 30mph expecting them to go to red, anyway as i got about 30 or so yards from them they went to amber and coz im paranoid about them cameras i braked only for my brakes to lock (terrential rain by the way) and go skidding through coming to a stop about 20/30 yards after them, so instead of waiting in the way of oncoming traffic i set off again. i didnt see a flash but more than likely if i didnt get flashed on going through the amber i would have as i come to a stop

so now im stressing out coz

1) i dont want any points

2) my insurance is bad enough as it is

3) i drive for a living and could jeperdise my job

how likely am i to get points and if so how likely am i to win an appeal?

cheers in advance

so now im stressing out coz

1) i dont want any points

2) my insurance is bad enough as it is

3) i drive for a living and could jeperdise my job

how likely am i to get points and if so how likely am i to win an appeal?

cheers in advance

If you were photographed, you will get a TS10 endorsement along with 3 points and £60 fine.

It would not be worth apealing, if you do then you could get charged with a more serious offence because you are supposed drive at a speed which means should something happen (eg. lights change) you should be able to react and stop in time. If the lights were amber you should be ok though, its only on red that the camera is activated.

If you didn't see a flash, then you *should* be ok, in theory...

Give it two weeks!

this is the thing though i wasnt driving like an idiot and i had slowed my speed, it was my brakes locking and sliding that took me past the lights, is there any chance of an appeal being successful though?

it was 12 in the afternoon so the flash wouldve been hard to see and when the brakes locked i didnt think to look for the camera

On another note I would get your ABS checked out if you locked up.

i know it was like getting kicked while i was down, the shock of ABS failing then going through the red, also the camera was one from behind not the one that faces you

I would be worried about something if you skidded for 20 to 30 yards over the lights and were only doing 30mph. :eek: From 30, even in the wet, I would expect to stop much better than that. Might be worth checking the tyres and the ABS is working.

If you got caught, well 3 points + £60 is the best you can hope for, but keep those fingers and toes crossed that no NIP comes through the letterbox.

Diesel or general road grease perhaps?

A few years ago I had a chat with a copper that set those things up: the lights typically had to be red for 10s or more, so you might get away with it.

Get your ABS and tyres checked.

I think they have to take two pictures to show that you were there when the light was read and had moved forward to intentionally go through the red light?

I have slammed on my brakes near a traffic signal camera in the rain too but skidded only a little - but then my car does not have ABS.

to be honest the tyres ive got arent what i would want but they arent cheapo russian or whatever tyres, they are brand new too. the car has just ran out of warranty aswell but is going in on a stereo fault that skoda said they would cover even though my warrantys out. would it be worth askin them if they will look at that under waranty?

A few years ago I had a chat with a copper that set those things up: the lights typically had to be red for 10s or more, so you might get away with it.

I think that either things have tightened up or there is significant variation around the country as I know the ones around here activate the instant they go to red.

Ditto to what Jason said about the stopping distance. :eek:

How "brand new" are we talking? Because you have to give brand new tyres respect for at least 200+ miles until they are bedded in. If you tried to stop on virgin rubber then that will have only exacerbated the issue/s causing such a long skid at low speed.

If the lights were still amber when you crossed the line, you should be OK.

But if you hit the brakes when you were

30 or so yards from the lights

and then stopped

20/30 yards after them

that means you took 50-60 yards to stop. Something is very wrong there.

Either you were driving much faster than 30mph, or your brakes/tyres are shot. In either case as the driver you are responsible, and you cannot blame the rain since you are supposed to take account of the conditions at all times.

Imagine if someone had jumped the lights the other way, or a pedestrian saw the lights changing and started to cross. You could have been in real trouble.

I reckon you have been very lucky.

Sorry if this sounds unfriendly, but that's the way I see it.

I think that either things have tightened up or there is significant variation around the country as I know the ones around here activate the instant they go to red.

Ditto to what Jason said about the stopping distance. :eek:

Perhaps. This was 10 years ago. He had an office full of offending cars with all 4 wheels locked and plumes of smoke: there were fewer cars with ABS then.

this is the thing though i wasnt driving like an idiot and i had slowed my speed, it was my brakes locking and sliding that took me past the lights, is there any chance of an appeal being successful though?

None whatsoever. You can see that it's wet so you should drive according to the conditions and if you skidded that much I question your claim to have only been doing 30.

Also you might want to ask why your ABS didn't work.

Regarding the stopping distance, I was thinking the same thing once I read the post, good to see others pointing that out too.

Stopping distance from 30mph in the wet is 120 Feet or 40 yards approx

A stopping distance of 60 yards would indicate a speed of just short of 40mph.

Maybe your recolection of the events are cloudy, I have been there myself on a few occasions.

If you are 100% positive that you were doing 30 then as others have said, something else is amiss. Maybe your car, maybe grease on the road?

Steve

they dont normally start snapping till 2 seconds after turning red. best bet is have a look on the ACPO website (think its Association of Chief Police Officers) and download their guidelines and have a jolly good read.

Just claim it wasn't you so your car must of been cloned.

no point in appealing against it,a friend of mine in his class 1 hgv was turning right at such a set of lights,as he was waiting they went red,as he was 75% trough the lights he set off when the oncoming traffic also stopped,a week later the notice came through so he said he was driving and added a letter to explain,anyway he ended up going to court,found guilty and fined £300 plus costs with 3 points,i wouldn't bother appealing if it got you,there appears to be very little point.

Just claim it wasn't you so your car must of been cloned.

Perverting the course of justice? Probably not the best idea.

Just claim it wasn't you so your car must of been cloned.

LOL, only if you want them to really do you. The 'hey let me off as it was wet guv' wont work either.

The sensors detect movement over them, and are usuall well after the line, so if you decided to move away after stopping chances are yes you got nabbed.

If you've stopped, always best to stay put if 'just' after the line. Any more than this then dont bother stopping, as upto 3 secs after red you'll be safe to allow for people passing on amber with too little room to stop safely.

Perverting the course of justice? Probably not the best idea.

Innocent till proven guilty... It's up to them to prove it was you and with car cloning on the rise there is reasonable doubt.

Innocent till proven guilty... It's up to them to prove it was you and with car cloning on the rise there is reasonable doubt.

BBC NEWS | England | Hereford/Worcs | Speeding ticket scam man jailed

BBC NEWS | England | Hereford/Worcs | Speeding ticket scam man jailed

So don't do what that guy did... jobs a good'un