Temporary Light Timings

[BrynCP]

Had a bit of trouble today with my ride.

Hit some temporary traffic lights at some roadworks, which had closed one lane of the road. As I approached it turned from red, to green, and I cycled through, no traffic behind me as it's a quiet village road. However, I think it then went to red and the other side green before I got through. Bear in mind I was cycling around 17mph and this is a 20mph road, this just seems like poorly timed lights?

The problem I had though, is the driver at the front of the queue at the other side saw his green light and moved out and right in front of me and refused to move, I literally had nowhere to go other than dismount, and get up onto the narrow pavement.

The driver is clearly in the wrong (green means go if clear) but should there be a minimum time on the lights to allow slower road users through without intimidation?

 

[User33236]

If the driver saw his light go to green why it he clearly in the wrong? Likely another motoring thread at present going on about a cyclist jumping a red light as this is likely what the driver would be thinking.

Back to timing. I have noticed some set of temporary lights not even giving enough time for cars to clear so no idea how the timings are worked out.

 

[DaveReading]

According to the "Pink Book", the all-red period should normally be 5 seconds for every 50 metres in length of the light-controlled stretch of road.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publicatio...ignals/portable-vehicular-signals-booklet.pdf

 

[User33236]

That would then give a speed of 10m/s or 22.37mph which exceed the speed limit of the road the OP mentions.

 

[Tim Hall]

If the driver saw his light go to green why it he clearly in the wrong?

Because, as the OP says, green doesn't mean go, it means go if the way is clear. The way wasn't clear, as the OP was in the way.

 

[Dragonwight]

I think the 5 seconds for 50 metres is just a general guide for contractors as further down it does say if vehicles are still in the shuttle lane when the next green starts then the red is too short which is what the OP reckoned.