As a regular driver, how many times have you seen someone running an amber light when in your opinion they had to stop? We see it too, police see it, and if you do it, you can be charged for it.
The one thing you should definitely not do is speed up when you see an amber light, if caught, you are likely to get in trouble.
Am I likely to get caught running an amber light?
Many people aren’t aware that there are cameras at traffic lights, which can record individuals who decided to take the risk and run an amber or red light. Especially at busy junctions, traffic light cameras are likely to be present. They are put in for safety, especially at busy junctions, to keep people from doing things that could possibly be risky for a lot of people.
Traffic light cameras are not visible and could be at any traffic lights, especially in locations where accidents are more likely to happen, it’s not worth risking it. Even if the traffic lights do not have a camera present, you can still be caught by police or individuals who may reports dashcam footage.
Rules concerning amber traffic lights
The highway code states that:
“AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident”.
The UK law of traffic lights is strict, stating that it is the driver’s responsibility to always stop behind the light at traffic lights if the light is amber or red. Even if the light is green, you should proceed with caution and be prepared for the light to turn amber at any point.
If the light goes red, all of the vehicles should be behind the white line, or you are committing an offence, however, we advise that stopping on or after the white line, is better than not stopping at all.
Individuals usually are confused when it comes to rules on travelling when an amber traffic light shows. You should always proceed with caution when there is a traffic light present, if you see an amber light, you should check your mirrors and stop without causing harm to any other road user.
You must only stop if it is safe to do so; if stopping would mean posing a danger to another person, you should proceed, even if the traffic light turns amber.
Common defences for amber light charges
If couldn’t stop at an amber light and therefore provided a genuine reason for it, you may be able to fight your charges, and avoid points and penalties. If for example you were getting out of the way of an emergency vehicle or had to cross a red or amber light due to an emergency, you may be able to use that as a defence for your case.
Our experienced solicitors provide a free initial consultation for each case. If you would like to find out whether it is possible to defend your case, we highly advise that you contact one of our experienced solicitors at Solicitors On your Side.
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