Red light jumping, nicked?

[Red Light]

A public beheading.

I don't like the tone of this thread. I'm innocent I tell you, innocent

 

[Red Light]

When I was a courier (in the 80s) I went over the lights at Mile End Road and Grove Road at speed, turning right on a mature amber to go north up Grove Road and into Victoria Park.

I got stopped (after a little while) and the sheet of charges was long.

It included failure to observe a traffic signal, driving without due care and attention, exceeding the 30 mph limit and a couple of other things. All very upsetting, really.

It was taken VERY seriously, quite rightly.

I don't know whether Failure to Observe a Traffic Signal can be used against a cyclist... From memory it was endorsable and cyclists don't need a license.

Exceeding the speed limit is not illegal on a bike. They only apply to motor vehicles.

 

[Bicycle]

Exceeding the speed limit is not illegal on a bike. They only apply to motor vehicles.

I was on a motorcycle at the time. I've never been caught for an RLJ on any other form of transport.

I posted because the OP asked for the offence and I recall the name of one my alleged transgressions on that day.
A pedal bicycle would never have made it from Bow Common lane to Victoria park before getting caught...

 

[fossyant]

Well if you do get hit by a car when you have rlj'ed and some body part gets fubared, don't go crying to us. Your insurance won't help either.

 

[Enigma2008]

You're just a bunch of prats! One day you'l come a cropper and hopefully it won't involve someone else.

 

[Red Light]

Well if you do get hit by a car when you have rlj'ed and some body part gets fubared, don't go crying to us. Your insurance won't help either.

Curiously that's 50% more likely to happen from a car running a red light than from a cyclist running a red light.

 

[Muddyfox]

You're just a bunch of prats! One day you'l come a cropper and hopefully it won't involve someone else.

I once hit a cyclist that had run a red light .. it took 2 fire crews about 25 minutes to retrieve him from underneath my car .. i doubt the bloke will ever ride a bicycle again

Simon

 

[Hip Priest]

RLJing seems more common than not on my commute. It's always slow cyclists too, so I have to overtake them again and again. However, in the last couple of weeks I've seen two 'all the gear' roadies with expensive bikes riding along the pavement.

 

[WychwoodTrev]

I allmost had a cyclist as bumper furniture on tuesday as he RLJed from my left straight out in front of me as I crossed the cross roads at 40mph

 

[doog]

Always have done and fairly frequently too. I did once get stopped by a traffic cop with full siren and blues. This was many moons ago when the Astra GTE 16V was THE car to have and the police had just got some (1990?). The smug git pulled alongside with me on his passenger side, wound down the electric window then proceeded to lecture me while continuing to stare straight ahead and failing to make eye contact once during his little speech. No enforcement carried out just a little 'chat' and left me under the impression that he was a complete pr*ck and an ar*e in one go. As I would have been around 18yrs old at the time he did nothing to help endear the police force with the community and the incicent would have helped enforce the sterotype view of the police force held by a large portion of society.

I came over all nostalgic in that post

. Shame about the rest of the blurb.

 

[Banjo]

I cant see a problem with Traffic Light Jumpers myself.

Wouldnt wear one myself though.

 

[Red Light]

RLJing seems more common than not on my commute.

TfL did research into it in London and staked out five major junctions. They found on average 18% or one in five cyclists RLJ'd. A different survey by the RAC found that one in ten drivers and one in five bus drivers RLJ'd more than three seconds after the lights had gone red. So it looks like RLJing is similar in all road user groups but only the cyclists get complained about.

 

[pshore]

According to this link, if you go through on red at all you will have committed an offence (unless you can prove your innocence). So, the RAC may not be making a fair comparison of offences.

What are the rules regarding traffic lights?
The obligation on the motorist is to stop, unless the light is green, in which case you may proceed only if it is clear and safe to do so. If the amber light is illuminated, a vehicle must stop, unless it has already passed the white stop line or the vehicle is so close to the stop line, that coming to a halt might cause an accident. If the red light is showing, then you must stop behind the stop line in all circumstances.


To stop at the traffic lights would have caused an accident, the driver behind me was driving too close so I decided to drive through. Do I have a defence?
If the light was red, it is not a defence. There are no circumstances for passing the stop line when the lights are red.


I did brake upon seeing the lights turning red, but due to wet weather conditions, I skidded so unfortunately passed the white line. Can I argue that this was beyond my control and thus provides me with a technical defence or mitigation?
No. Your obligation is to drive at a speed at which you are able to come to a halt promptly, if required. The Court will conclude that you had not taken into account the poor weather conditions, and the offence has therefore been committed. Indeed, there is a risk that the allegation could become driving without due care and attention, which carries a higher punishment.


I went through on amber. There was a Police Officer who stopped me and has alleged I went through on red, so it is my word against his. Can I fight the allegation?
You can dispute the allegation, but the mere fact that the lights were not red, does not provide you with a defence. If you crossed on amber, you have still committed the offence, unless you can show that it was unsafe to stop. If the Police Officer can convince the Court that there was no reason why you should not have been able to stop on amber, you could be convicted. The fact that it is his word against yours does not prevent a prosecution, although clearly, the outcome will depend heavily on each party's version of events/credibility.

 

[fossyant]

Curiously that's 50% more likely to happen from a car running a red light than from a cyclist running a red light.

Maybe, but if you do it and get the long term sh1t I've got from getting hit by a car then at least if you are 'legit' then you might get some help. 3 years in for me, shoulder/back/nerve damage ain't fun - oh and this was light damage as I got up and cycled away. Old school mtb helped a little.

Run a red, get hit, then it's your own fault. No legal team will get you help.

Redlight - run them if you want. I don't. Just adds fun as I over take every RLJ rider that does it.... good training the lazy RLJ'ers miss. The stop start is a very good interval trainer ! Also massively good for dealing with lactic acid issues - you ride through it. Kills you at first, but you get a fitter/better rider. RLJ'er's don't get used to it.

 

[Bicycle]

You're just a bunch of prats! One day you'l come a cropper and hopefully it won't involve someone else.

In my defence, I don't do it now. I am also against RLJ-ing now.

My escapade was in the 80s and I didn't have much choice; there was a Transit with eight of London's finest in it trying to catch up with me.

If I'd stopped at the red at Mile End, they'd have had me. As it was, I got about another two miles of relative freedom.

When they and their pals in a car caught up with me, they were kind enough to help me off my motorcycle.

I no longer approve of RLJ-ing in any way, shape or form.