Sin bin for red light jumping cyclists

[Rusty Nails]

99.9% of deaths last year in the UK were due to murder. Why bother prosecuting?

 

[Alex321]

The issue is that any other road user coming through on a green light then has to deal with someone coming through legally on a red.
Besides the pain and dents who is liable for the costs in these circumstances? I know someone is going to say the motorist because cyclist are an entitled higher species, but what if the vehicle coming through on green is a quarter ton of cargo ebike?
Even the French are falling out of love with priorité à droite, I don’t think introducing a variation on theme of this is a good idea.

We aren't talking about priorité à driote. We are talking about being able to treat red lights as a give way sign if you are turning left.

They have a similar system (for turning right of course) in many US cities.

The driver/cyclist going through the red is always the one with responsibility to check it is clear to proceed, they never have priority.

 

[Alex321]

The stats that I can find at the moment are that 16% of cyclists occasionally run red lights. Of those, none appear to have been killed or injured.

I think you will find that stat is cyclists who admit to occsionally jumping red lights. Unsurprisingly, those who have been killed aren't admitting it

 

[Rusty Nails]

I have driven in the US, often using the option to filter right through a red light. Felt a bit strange the first few times but as long as you take care of what those coming through on green might do it's safe.

 

[Mike_P]

The converse to jumping a red, which I saw a bus do last night, is motorists believing they have complete right of way on a green when in fact that is only if the junction is clear. Very few allow right turning vehicles to clear.

 

[Punkawallah]

The stats that I can find at the moment are that 16% of cyclists occasionally run red lights. Of those, none appear to have been killed or injured.
Between 2005 and 2014, no pedestrians have been killed by cyclists jumping red lights but 52 were killed by motorists doing the same thing.
Generally speaking 96% of pedestrians injured in London collisions involve motor vehicles and 4% bicycles.

And, of course 100% of pedestrians injured by motor vehicles and bicycles were . . . pedestrians. Is this the common element, I wonder?

 

[blackrat]

We aren't talking about priorité à driote. We are talking about being able to treat red lights as a give way sign if you are turning left.

They have a similar system (for turning right of course) in many US cities.

The driver/cyclist going through the red is always the one with responsibility to check it is clear to proceed, they never have priority.

"They have a similar system (for turning right of course) in many US cities."
In every municipality actually. In addition, many are now allowing turning left across a divided road by having the left turn filter light flashing amber if the road is clear.
Much of cycling and driving safety is down to care and reasonableness. The essence being, it is assumed one does not intend to maim someone - or to be maimed.

 

[Brandane]

The essence being, it is assumed one does not intend to maim someone.

Unfortunately this assumption doesn't apply in the UK.. Seriously, there are a small minority, but not insignificant number of drivers out there, who REALLY do not care!

 

[Punkawallah]

Unfortunately this assumption doesn't apply in the UK.. Seriously, there are a small minority, but not insignificant number of drivers out there, who REALLY do not care!

Ironically, coming in on my ride this morning, a Learner Driver car ignored my right of way on a roundabout. There was only the driver in the vehicle, so I must presume they were the instructor. What chance do learners have?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Ironically, coming in on my ride this morning, a Learner Driver car ignored my right of way on a roundabout. There was only the driver in the vehicle, so I must presume they were the instructor.

Oh yes, I have had driving instructors (only one person in the learner's car, who else but the instructor?) with the "must get in front of the cyclist" driving style.
Indeed, what will learners learn from those instructors?

 

[classic33]

Jumped/ran a red light years ago, on the way back into Shipley from Saltaire, and pulled off the road as soon as I could.
Stopped, not that I was going anywhere other than getting out of the way, and asked if I was aware that I'd gone through a red light. Answered "Yes" and explained before he'd a chance to ask me why? Delivered the simple answer of getting out of the way. He asked of what, and I pointed towards the ambulance on blues and two's head our way, and was past us before I finished explaining.
I'd heard the sirens and knew it was closing, but not which way it would go at the time I decided to get off the road. But why hold up a service I've used quite a bit, and they're not one to use the blues and two's for the sake of it. My opinion anyway.

 

[blackrat]

Jumped/ran a red light years ago, on the way back into Shipley from Saltaire, and pulled off the road as soon as I could.
Stopped, not that I was going anywhere other than getting out of the way, and asked if I was aware that I'd gone through a red light. Answered "Yes" and explained before he'd a chance to ask me why? Delivered the simple answer of getting out of the way. He asked of what, and I pointed towards the ambulance on blues and two's head our way, and was past us before I finished explaining.
I'd heard the sirens and knew it was closing, but not which way it would go at the time I decided to get off the road. But why hold up a service I've used quite a bit, and they're not one to use the blues and two's for the sake of it. My opinion anyway.

Around here we hear a siren and we slow to a stop and leave it to the driver of the emergency vehicle to work out how to go around. It is asking for problems by trying to provide a clear road for the ambulance, or other.

 

[icowden]

Around here we hear a siren and we slow to a stop and leave it to the driver of the emergency vehicle to work out how to go around. It is asking for problems by trying to provide a clear road for the ambulance, or other.

Where on earth is "here"?

I rather like the rule in Slovakia whereby cars pull into the centre and outside on a two lane carriageway to leave space for an emergency vehicle down the middle. Although quite how emergency vehicles get anywhere in the mountainous regions (most of Slovakia) is beyond me!

 

[classic33]

Around here we hear a siren and we slow to a stop and leave it to the driver of the emergency vehicle to work out how to go around. It is asking for problems by trying to provide a clear road for the ambulance, or other.

I'd the ability to get off the road and did so. True I ran a red light to do so, but that was my way of dealing with it. Down to dealing with the questioning of why I'd done it.

If they'd been taken it further, I'd have still stuck with the same answer. I was aware of the vehicle, before the person who pointed out the obvious to me was.

 

[Brandane]

Around here we hear a siren and we slow to a stop and leave it to the driver of the emergency vehicle to work out how to go around. It is asking for problems by trying to provide a clear road for the ambulance, or other.

As a retired driver of a blue light and siren emergency vehicle, this type of thing used to greatly annoy me! Multiple vehicles slowing to a stop completely obstructs the road. Then how are we/they supposed to go to get past?

I'm trying to imagine how such actions might be helpful. Maybe on 4 lane, sparsely trafficked roads like I have seen in parts of America (is that where "here" is?). But on the average narrow Victorian streets of the UK towns, please do NOT do this!! Get out the way. And if that means jumping a red light, do it CAREFULLY. In fact, speed up if you need to get out the way. Use common sense, and don't panic. Just don't slow down and stop, blocking the road!