Safe Speed Forums

today I was driving approaching a roundabout and i saw a set of traffic road work signs indicating temporary traffic lights ahead. then i realised it was red and i was prepared to stop. when i nearly stopped in front of the traffic lights, a road worker in uniform waved me to go ahead...then I followed his instrucitons and all the drivers behind me did the same...after I passed him, from the rear mirror i saw him clearing up the road work site...I was convinced the road work was done...but i am thinking if you jump the red, it will be an offence. Under such a situation, what will you do? stop or follow the instruciton? thanks for your comments.

There can be no fixed answer in such circumstances. You're going to have to use your judgement based on what you can see and what you know. If proceeding, it makes good sense to proceed with extra caution.

I'd look for danger first. If there was none, I'd evaluate the quality of the excuse for proceeding against a red light.

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Paul Smith
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Obviously you are on much safer legal ground if the lights are out completely, but the rule for traffic lights not working at a junction is to proceed with great care. Lights stuck on red is a reasonable instance of not working but I think you would need witness evidence and a good brief if prosecuted for passing a temporary traffic light stuck on red.
In practice I have always turned around and gone another way if possible when faced with this situation as I believe a successful prosecution carries 6 penalty points.

Be worth a word from the experts - BIBs - ,but i was always under the impression that "temporary" light are just that - temporary and had no legal backing - on the other hand , my "ye olde copie, written in stone " of the HC did say "if in doubt stop". Depends on time of day though.
The view i had heard was that it was not illegal to go through them - i woud look at that two ways
1) can you see the end of the road works , if clear and no one approaching, and they don't change in a "reasonable time", wait another short time- then proceed with caution, at night go to main beam
2) cant see - be a live hero - sit tight untill they change - could be a trainee driver ( or one practicing) coming toward you at high speed - and you cant see them, till too late - be late in this world etc. If your're totally convinced i would proceed with extreme caution on main beam, and be prepared to stop , and at all times look for ways to avoid an "idiot" coming the other way who might just have a stuck green.


Actually i think that this post repeates one of our main hates about road works - the dreaded long delay "temporary" lights.

I'd like to see them display a timer. It would be simple with todays technology, then you would know when the stupid things had broken down!

Also a hotline would be nice to get them taken down when they are not necessary.
Last year in Staveley, we had some that were only 16 feet apart - consequently, none of the locals bothered stopping at the red light, when clearly, nothing was coming the other way!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Timer, like it will make enquiries with our suppliers!

I imagine there will be problems however as more often than not temp lights are vehicle actuated so the timer would be superfluous in those instances.

At night times, on a deserted road, the vehicle activation triggers a change - no problem. But during heavier traffic times, surely the trigger is ON at both ends, so a timed change takes over?
In any event, if a timer were displayed, and it read zero, you would know it should have changed - if it does'nt, then you know it's a DANIEL's special purchase set, and is on the blink!
If the timer is counting down and reads 30 ses, you would know you had only a short time to wait, and would be less inclined to jump the lights.

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

will have to brush up on my traffic light manuals! They can be operated in a number of ways.

Maybe some sort of flashing LED just to reassure trhat things are ok?

They are a pain in the backside though, cables break, kids mess about with them etc etc