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Help! how long from amber to Red @ 40mph

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Old 11-06-2008, 12:53 PM
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Jim Galbally
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Default Help! how long from amber to Red @ 40mph

i'm struggling to find this info on google, can anyone help?

i need to know the minimum time a traffic light has to show an amber signal when going red. the only info i can get is from a case in the USA where it states 3.8seconds, butthats the USA this is for a road with a posted speed limit of 40mph.
Old 11-06-2008, 12:54 PM
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buy a stop watch and time one dude
Old 11-06-2008, 12:56 PM
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dunketh
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Locally they're all bloody different!

I've tried to hit some at amber only to go through on a red because theres been no appreciable delay. Thank fuck they dont tend to use cameras around here.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:00 PM
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amber means stop anyway so makes no difference.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:06 PM
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Going through a red light I take it?
Old 11-06-2008, 01:11 PM
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EIL132
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3 seconds.

"The amber light on all traffic signal and pedestrian crossing installations is shown for 3 seconds precisely. It is not capable of variation. This value is set by Parliament via a Statutory Instrument."
Old 11-06-2008, 01:18 PM
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COMEDY DAN
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Originally Posted by TF Rallyesport
amber means stop anyway so makes no difference.
No it doesnt.

Red means Stop, Amber means Get Ready to stop, or on a pelican, you can go if its safe to do so after the red has gone out.

If you go through an amber light you dont get fined.

Legally you are allowed to drive through an amber light.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by COMEDY DAN
No it doesnt.

Red means Stop, Amber means Get Ready to stop, or on a pelican, you can go if its safe to do so after the red has gone out.

If you go through an amber light you dont get fined.

Legally you are allowed to drive through an amber light.

i think the correct definition for amber is stop at the line if it's safe to do so, which it is usually going to be!

FLASHING amber is as above and totally different!
Old 11-06-2008, 01:21 PM
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Charlie Chalk
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Originally Posted by COMEDY DAN
Gone through a red light I take it?

more like it LOL
Old 11-06-2008, 01:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Lambchop
i think the correct definition for amber is stop at the line if it's safe to do so, which it is usually going to be!

FLASHING amber is as above and totally different!

agreed mate, but amber isnt the same as red, was all I was merely pointing out.

Your definition is better than mine choppy.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:26 PM
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Micky The Finn
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Originally Posted by COMEDY DAN
No it doesnt.

Red means Stop, Amber means Get Ready to stop, or on a pelican, you can go if its safe to do so after the red has gone out.

If you go through an amber light you dont get fined.

Legally you are allowed to drive through an amber light.

yes it does,amber means stop,nothing more nothing less!!
Old 11-06-2008, 01:28 PM
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Red means stop, amber means stop - these are the main points, not very different.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:32 PM
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Red means stop at all times, amber means stop unless it is not safe to do so. So it means stop, because there is practically no reason it would ever be unsafe to stop
Old 11-06-2008, 01:33 PM
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http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...&Rendition=Web
Old 11-06-2008, 01:34 PM
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i always thought it was get ready to stop ? im an amber gambler anyway !
Old 11-06-2008, 01:34 PM
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BigNige
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On my test i went through an amber light and PASSED

Examiner stated .

If it is unsafe to stop the car without causing hinderance to other users and NOT be across the white line when you finally come to rest you SHOULD proceded through the amber light

However he also stated that AMBER is a STOP colour not a "make it if you can" light

I have no idea what he meant by that last statement

PS 3 seconds is what i was told as well amber for 3 then red to take into consideration my first statement

Lube up Jimbo 3 points coming your "mates" way


Nige
Old 11-06-2008, 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by TF Rallyesport

im happy with my "safe to do so" definition

either way it pisses me off when folk complain and whinge at getting a ticket and saying "but it was amber". twats!
Old 11-06-2008, 01:37 PM
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http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAn...&Rendition=Web
Old 11-06-2008, 01:37 PM
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wtf repost, i just clicked on the link and it posted it LOL....
Old 11-06-2008, 01:44 PM
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BigNige
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Well done dingle

Wealth of knowledge

Actually confirmed my examiner 15 years ago had a clue about things

seems likes someones licence is about to have more points than Derby County did last year

Nige
Old 11-06-2008, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by joel_winders
im an amber gambler anyway !
then you're a selfish twat. the number of cunts that go through amber and red these days is horrendous and causes major traffic disruption. sometimes if i launch quickly from a green light on the bike, i nearly get people coming into the side of me that have gone through amber or red without giving a shit. i usually beep at them as i'm heading for the side door, or if they have to stop in traffic in my path i have been known to smash a mirror off the cunts to make them think twice about doing it again

all traffic lights should have cameras on imo, and all box junctions should be policed with cctv
Old 11-06-2008, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by joel_winders
i always thought it was get ready to stop ? im an amber gambler anyway !
Red and Amber ready to go, not go.
Maybe where the get ready bit comes in.
Old 11-06-2008, 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by BigNige
Well done dingle

Wealth of knowledge

Actually confirmed my examiner 15 years ago had a clue about things

seems likes someones licence is about to have more points than Derby County did last year

Nige
THink i have more than derby did last year LOL
Old 11-06-2008, 02:25 PM
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after checking with the retained copper types who do our driving assesments:

there is not a set limit for amber/red changing as some will do it faster than others, but i think what jim is enquiring about is if there is a minimum time that the light MUST be amber for before it goes to red, but unfortunatly i cannot unearth this information at this present time

red light camera's do tend to be operational within the 2 seconds after the lights have turned red until they turn green again

how many pictures have been taken of the vehicle going through the light? if there are 2 then this will determine how fast it was traveling
if there is only one then you could argue that you were stationary or moving forwards very slowly, this would incuur a probabl £100 fine for being a twat, but no points

insurance companies frown on red light jumping more than they do for speeding offences and your license, if you are convicted of the offence, will reflect this by the penalty code

as a general rule though, the lights will stay amber for long enough so that anyone approaching the lights will have time to slow down and stop in time for the reds or carry n at the speed limit and not get caught by the camera

this is on the basis that you are maintaining the correct speed and not going faster than the posted limits

all this may be taken into consideration

your only mitigating circumstances wold be that you went through the lights as you did not want to cause an accident because the vehicle behind you was very close and, if you were to have stamped on your brakes, they would have collided with you

but if there is no second vehicle in the pcituer, then you can't use that arguement
Old 11-06-2008, 02:49 PM
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3 seconds? really? i've worked on the basis of 4

@ 40mph you travel 228ft in 4 seconds, the stopping distance is 120ft. that leaves you 108ft (or 1.8 seconds) to make a decision on if it is safe to stop or not, then anchor on!

never thought about it like this before till i did the maths!

anyway, wish me luck in court tomorrow
Old 11-06-2008, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by foreigneRS
then you're a selfish twat. the number of cunts that go through amber and red these days is horrendous and causes major traffic disruption. sometimes if i launch quickly from a green light on the bike, i nearly get people coming into the side of me that have gone through amber or red without giving a shit. i usually beep at them as i'm heading for the side door, or if they have to stop in traffic in my path i have been known to smash a mirror off the cunts to make them think twice about doing it again

all traffic lights should have cameras on imo, and all box junctions should be policed with cctv
well the people your on about must be going through RED lights not AMBER, imo your probably one of them people who think its safe to filter when its not and gets annoyed when theres no room to get through ? that annoys me more !
Old 11-06-2008, 02:54 PM
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aren't traffic lights supposed to be treated as a give way red or green
Old 11-06-2008, 03:01 PM
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as mentioned earlier Jim i don't think it wise that you use stopping distance and think time as your defence,I would stick with the fact that you made a split second decission and drove through amber as it was unsafe for other road users for you to stop abruptly.
I have been warned by policeman about going through on amber the next time i stopped, I got a serious does of foooks from the police car behind who told me i should have gone through as he had to do an emergency stop to avoid a colision.
so what we do when the lights changes to amber god knows
Old 11-06-2008, 03:27 PM
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i was just writing own my statement of events etc. (i chose to go thru the light for many reasons, all highlighted in a "i know i did wrong, but here's why" kinda way) and i was working out the "how long i had to think about it" figure, and it's shocking just how little time you have to react, never thought about it like that before!
Old 11-06-2008, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by joel_winders
well the people your on about must be going through RED lights not AMBER, imo your probably one of them people who think its safe to filter when its not and gets annoyed when theres no room to get through ? that annoys me more !
sometimes amber as well, as at some junctions where it happens regularly i can see their light and there is very little time difference between their red and our green, but a long distance so that they are right in front of you if you go immediately on green.

as the advert used to say, don't be an amber gambler! why do it, so you save 30 seconds at that light just to be held up at the next?
Old 11-06-2008, 03:34 PM
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Nick,

you cant say people going through amber lights are selfish twats and then admit to "launching" your bike from a green light.
Old 11-06-2008, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by CossieRich
Nick,

you cant say people going through amber lights are selfish twats and then admit to "launching" your bike from a green light.
Proceed on green if safe to do so, takes two to tango
Old 11-06-2008, 03:36 PM
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just worked out how much i jumped the light by...

< 0.126 seconds

fuck
Old 11-06-2008, 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted by CossieRich
Nick,

you cant say people going through amber lights are selfish twats and then admit to "launching" your bike from a green light.
i usually launch it at them to make the point that one day they could kill someone if they leave it later and later. and i'm perfectly entitled to launch it when it goes green.
Old 11-06-2008, 03:49 PM
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don't read a statement out, or submit one, that says "i was working out teh odds of me being flashed or not and then thought "fuck it" and now i'm grovveling to you because it's going to mean points on my lisence"

don't make it out that you put your foot down to get through the lights

you were driving along, sensibly, the lights were approaching, your foot lifted off the throttle and hovered over the brake pedal for a split second, then it went down on the accelerater again as you had passed the point of no return, as it did so, the lights changed, your momentum would have seen you stopping in the middle of the lights if you had put the anchors on, you realise that it was a mistake and, due to having made alterations to your driving style, you can confidently ensure that there is only going to be one reslut from this and that is you will approach evry set of lights with this mistake firmly embeded in your consiousness to prevent this one off event ever occouring again in the future

if they bum rape you then take it, if they let you off then don't collapse and faint like you've just been given the 11th hour pardon from the death sentance either

just nod your head and rememebr to listen to what they say and not let the blood that's rushing around in your head deafen you to the statement read out

good luck
Old 11-06-2008, 03:50 PM
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Originally Posted by foreigneRS
i usually launch it at them to make the point that one day they could kill someone if they leave it later and later. and i'm perfectly entitled to launch it when it goes green.
green means "procced when it is safe to do so" no "launch off teh lights and hit someone who's going through their reds and hope they are insured"
Old 11-06-2008, 03:58 PM
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here's what ive written down and more or less what i'll be reading out, theres a few diagrams ive driven to go with it

Description of events and explanation of diagram
I
My vehicle is travelling in the outside lane @ approx. 40mph
In my rear view I can see nothing behind me in my lane and a normal flow of traffic in the middle lane

II
Traffic Signal switches from Green to Amber
My vehicle is travelling I the outside lane @ approx 40mph
In My rear view I can see an ambulance with lights (no siren) moving from behind a Van to the outside lane behind me
Traffic in my forward view continues through amber signal

<1.8 seconds from II
I make the decision not to stop in front of Ambulance blocking his path and halting his progress
I identify blue people carrier slowing for lights in middle lane
I make the decision not to perform an emergency stop and pull in behind people carrier in middle lane as I believed this would be a dangerous manoeuvre that does not warrant the risk involved.
I identify that there are no haazards associated with crossing the junction
I make the decision to continue at my present speed and cross the junction in a safe manner believing that I will begin to cross the junction before the signal turns red; however I still know that even if the light does turn red there will still be no danger associated with crossing the junction.

III
I begin to cross the junction, believing that I have crossed the junction before the light changes to red; however the photographs show that this is not the case.
All other vehicles stop for the red light
The Ambulance turns on his siren and proceeds to cross the junction behind me

Once I am across the junction I move to the middle lane allowing the ambulance to pass on the outside safely and continue my journey as normal.

Key points:
I have paid proper attention to the hazards associated with crossing the junction and concluded that there is no risk.
Any attempt to stop for the light would have ended in either a dangerous stopping manoeuvre, or blocking of an emergency vehicle on call.
I made no attempt to accelerate through the junction in order to “jump the light”
I did not at the time believe it was an offence to cross a red light, it is only after I have researched into this that I have discovered that it is still considered an offense, and according to the law I should have stopped in front of the vehicle blocking it’s path
I full accept that I have committed an offense, however I wish to highlight the reasons for committing this offense to show that it was not due to lack of neither attention nor haste.
Old 11-06-2008, 04:05 PM
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if you are going to say all that, and it sounds good to me, but i'm no legal eagle, i would not say "no risk" and "no danger", i would say minimal or some such thing

as for launching on a green light, of course i make sure it's safe to do so before i do it. i'm on a bike and don't really want to be twatted into the side of by a cunt of an amber gambler or red light jumper
Old 11-06-2008, 04:13 PM
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good luck!
Old 11-06-2008, 04:19 PM
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point 2, line 2, my vehicle is traveling in the outside lane, not my vehicle I traveling in the outside lane

also, they will not let you off with that, and after one of our drivers got done for going into a bus lane where the ambulance/police vehicle was clearly in the picture going past he said "that fucker isn't going to pay my £100 fine, so the next one will just have to wait till he gets to the hospital 5 seconds later"

it's the cold harsh reality of it

other than that it reads fine mate


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