Apologies

[Halfmanhalfbike]

If you were the cyclist in HTC kit (I think) at Kirkliston traffic lights about 5:30. I was the vectra driver who hadn't noticed the lights had changed back to red .

While waiting in the queue I had been watching a little kid trying to take a photo of the war memorial and was fascinated at his attempts. The car in front then turned off to the right so I just put it in gear and moved off. Didn't realise he had jumped the lights which were already at red. I felt a real d*ckhead

That's a wake up call for me

Once again

 

[Black Sheep]

perhaps we're sometimes a little harsh on drivers? its quite easy to be distracted, often by something that we do need to be aware of!

 

[HLaB]

If you were the cyclist in HTC kit (I think) at Kirkliston traffic lights about 5:30. I was the vectra driver who hadn't noticed the lights had changed back to red .

While waiting in the queue I had been watching a little kid trying to take a photo of the war memorial and was fascinated at his attempts. The car in front then turned off to the right so I just put it in gear and moved off. Didn't realise he had jumped the lights which were already at red. I felt a real d*ckhead

That's a wake up call for me

Once again

Since its fess up time, my lapse of concentration came about 7 years ago, in Dublin, in a company pool car. I indicated to go into a right turn pocket and deliberately let them switch off when I was stopped in the pocket. My passenger switched them back on, in that moment I was distracted and never noticed a cyclist undertaking a bus (going straight on towards me) and I started to turn into their path. It was a good job I was moving from a stationary start but the cycllists wasn't that much pleased (and I don't blame him) with my Smidsy moment

 

[magnatom]

My confession doesn't involve a cyclist, but it happened just about a week ago. It was coming back from Aberdeen, with my wife and youngest child in the car. I was tired, but I didn't think I was too bad. Then I suddenly found myself waking up from a microsleep and the car had drifted (only slightly) towards a lorry to my left. Very scary moment that my wife (look after little princess in the back) didn't notice.

Lesson learned!

 

[Bigsharn]

Yeah, I've never driven a car but many a time I've anoyed a motorist by making slightly dodgy manoevres on my bike when I was younger (including riding on the pavement to pass traffic lights)

 

[Arch]

I have an opposite to the OP. Last week (on my bike) I stopped at a red, and then sat through an entire green phase at a set of lights, without noticing they'd changed. Realised just as they went amber again....

(no traffic behind me, hence I didn't get beeped or anything)

 

[Lizban]

This thread to me explains why so many punishments for driving are mild.

I can instantly recognise the feeling that the OP has gone through - surely every driver has their own example of this 'moment'. Having an understanding of this feeling and hence 'there go I but the for the grace of god' means that on a human level these punishments are understandable.

To me shows the complexity of setting punishments for un intential acts that have huge consquences.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I have an opposite to the OP. Last week (on my bike) I stopped at a red, and then sat through an entire green phase at a set of lights, without noticing they'd changed. Realised just as they went amber again....

Reminds me of the old Jasper Carrot sketch about the difference between a drunk driver and a stoned one.

The drunk driver goes straight through the red lights, but doesn't hit the stoned driver as he's sat there at the green lights going "Wow, man, these lights are just sooooo greeeeeeeeen!".

 

[jonny jeez]

I have an opposite to the OP. Last week (on my bike) I stopped at a red, and then sat through an entire green phase at a set of lights, without noticing they'd changed. Realised just as they went amber again....

(no traffic behind me, hence I didn't get beeped or anything)

I've done that too, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I must have been either enjoying the stop, or just really tired.

very embarrasing, but also had nothing behind me at the time...thank goodness