Sometimes you just can't stop at the red light

[TheLondonCyclist]

I haven't. The clip is several months old and i didn't get around to uploading it when it happened.
My reason for the upload is to share with people how you can read the road. I took a look over my shoulder as the lights change and I saw a tipper truck bearing down on me with less than a second gap left between us.
I had to make a split second decision on what to do. Will the tipper driver stop or will he continue? If I stop will he be able to stop? Is he concentrating on what I'm about to do?

He may have only gone through the light because I did, all we know for sure is that he went through it after I did. And I sure as hell wouldn't want to find out what would happen if I came to a stop and he didn't.

There's about 6 meters to your left for you turn move over and stop. :P

 

[gaz]

There's about 6 meters to your left for you turn move over and stop. :P

In a split second you are going to change position and stop harshly whilst a tipper truck is on your 6?

 

[Hawk]

So how are those of is who aren't equipped with rear view surveillance cameras to know which red lights we're supposed to jump?

How could a road user without mirrors POSSIBLY know what's going on behind them?

 

[martint235]

In a split second you are going to change position and stop harshly whilst a tipper truck is on your 6?

Be fair Gaz, you cycle in London. Every day in extremely busy traffic, you're making split second decisions on road position. If you're not I'd be very surprised cos I know that I do.

 

[mickle]

Be fair Gaz, you cycle in London. Every day in extremely busy traffic, you're making split second decisions on road position. If you're not I'd be very surprised cos I know that I do.

Is it too late to point out that Gaz is not the only person with lots of experience of cycling in heavy London traffic. He is not uniquely qualified to have an opinion. Or, simply by virtue of his tremendous road-warrior cojones, for that opinion to be any more valid than anyone elses.

 

[martint235]

Is it too late to point out that Gaz is not the only person with lots of experience of cycling in heavy London traffic. He is not uniquely qualified to have an opinion. Or, simply by virtue of his tremendous road-warrior cojones, for that opinion to be any more valid than anyone elses.

I wasn't suggesting that. Gaz posed the question as to whether he was meant to make a split second decision in heavy traffic. I was trying to point out that he (and others, myself included) do this on a daily basis.

 

[thefollen]

Saw a big-ass truck run a red in a similar fashion this morning (I was some way behind). The light was red as the tipper slowly crossed the line. Reminded me of this post. Providing there's no harm done, I don't believe there's anything wrong with running the occasional red if it's a case of perceived safety. In Gaz's one, no peds were alarmed, no vehicles put-out and everyone gets to work for their porridge. Sometimes you have to play the percentages, so to speak.

 

[Drago]

Naturally, i wouldnt condone braking hard and suddenly in front of a fast moving truck, but then instead of spinning full tilt at an amber I'd be progressively slowing down in anticipation of it turning red. By not suicidally flinging yourself at an amber light you avoid the whole scenario in the first place.

 

[gaz]

Be fair Gaz, you cycle in London. Every day in extremely busy traffic, you're making split second decisions on road position. If you're not I'd be very surprised cos I know that I do.

I think you slightly miss-interpreted what I said. I'm not saying i'm not making split second decisions, I'm saying is that one which would come to mind when a tipper truck is behind me?
[QUOTE 2176343, member: 45"]Do you think you could have avoided being in a position where you had to make a split second decision?[/quote]
Yes, by staying in bed. You will always have to make split second decisions when on the road. Simply because things aren't fixed to a rigid structure. Drivers change lanes, peds step out from the pavement without looking.
Could I have avoided this one? I could have easily avoided this one if I peddled faster from the get go
In seriousness, I know some have mentioned using the left lane. I think a bit of local road knowledge helps with making a decision on whether to use that or not. After the traffic lights, the road flows around to the right, on the arc of the bend is a turning off, this appears to be straight on from the direction we are coming from. Road users are meant to use the left lane to make that turning but many just use the second lane (the one I was in). So if you are going around to the right, the best option is to take the second lane and hold a strong position around the corner. If I took the left lane and the tipper truck took the straight ahead option, I wouldn't have put my self in a good position, although I would been in a safer position to stop for the lights.

Naturally, i wouldnt condone braking hard and suddenly in front of a fast moving truck, but then instead of spinning full tilt at an amber I'd be progressively slowing down in anticipation of it turning red. By not suicidally flinging yourself at an amber light you avoid the whole scenario in the first place.

So every time you see a green light, you progressively slow down until you get to it? Just in case it turns red? I can't see that you are suggesting that I progressively slowed down from when I saw the amber in the video, as at 20mph and only a few meters to go till the stop line, I would have to slam my brakes on. Not a problem until you throw in a tipper truck 6m behind me (less than a 1 second gap).

Suicidally flinging myself at an amber? Did you watch the same video as everyone else?
I'm sure many would agree that if I stopped, it would have been suicidally stopping in front of a close following tipper truck.

 

[gaz]

Well answered, it's just a shame that people ask such dumb questions.

I wouldn't say what anyone said is dumb. People have different opinions about things and understanding that is key. No point throwing all of your toys out of the pram because someone disagreed with you.

 

[BentMikey]

That "suicidally flinging yourself at an amber light" did make me laugh!

 

[Miquel In De Rain]

I'm just thinking there is a lorry drivers forum somewhere with a thread of the same title.

 

[BentMikey]

I've just realised, Drago = EastMidlandsDrivers, yes? LOLOLOL!

 

[Drago]

I think you slightly miss-interpreted what I said. I'm not saying i'm not making split second decisions, I'm saying is that one which would come to mind when a tipper truck is behind me?

Yes, by staying in bed. You will always have to make split second decisions when on the road. Simply because things aren't fixed to a rigid structure. Drivers change lanes, peds step out from the pavement without looking.
Could I have avoided this one? I could have easily avoided this one if I peddled faster from the get go
In seriousness, I know some have mentioned using the left lane. I think a bit of local road knowledge helps with making a decision on whether to use that or not. After the traffic lights, the road flows around to the right, on the arc of the bend is a turning off, this appears to be straight on from the direction we are coming from. Road users are meant to use the left lane to make that turning but many just use the second lane (the one I was in). So if you are going around to the right, the best option is to take the second lane and hold a strong position around the corner. If I took the left lane and the tipper truck took the straight ahead option, I wouldn't have put my self in a good position, although I would been in a safer position to stop for the lights.

So every time you see a green light, you progressively slow down until you get to it? Just in case it turns red? I can't see that you are suggesting that I progressively slowed down from when I saw the amber in the video, as at 20mph and only a few meters to go till the stop line, I would have to slam my brakes on. Not a problem until you throw in a tipper truck 6m behind me (less than a 1 second gap).

Suicidally flinging myself at an amber? Did you watch the same video as everyone else?
I'm sure many would agree that if I stopped, it would have been suicidally stopping in front of a close following tipper truck.

A ridiculous question.

First of all I approach all lights with caution - their mere presence is indicative of danger, be it a crossing, junction or whatever.

And if it flicks to amber I start slowing down with a view to stopping in a progressive, predictable manner - not tilting at it flat out then having to worry about stopping on a sixpence with the vehicle behind me anally invading me.

 

[Drago]

I've just realised, Drago = EastMidlandsDrivers, yes? LOLOLOL!

unsure of the significance of that but I'm not in the East Midlands.