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Re: To jump or not to jump: special red light circumstance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baph (Post 1341413)

However....

You forgot the check your six o'clock elevation plus 60 degrees.

Brunstoms little helicopter - Expect NIP in the post :smt027

Re: To jump or not to jump: special red light circumstance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baph (Post 1341413)

In that situation, waiting a mere 30-40 seconds, I'd wait.

However, I've been on a certain road near me quite a few times in a similar position. Picture the scene:

It's dark, you can obviously tell that there are no cars either waiting to come through the roadworks or even approaching the roadworks (in some instances you can see that a mile after the roadworks there's nothing coming the other way to you are). You're in an NSL doing "NSL" speeds, and the light you're coming up on is red. If there is any workmen at the roadworks, they're working in complete darkness, because there's no street lighting, and no lighting for the roadworks.

My reaction? So long as I'm sure that nothing is coming (and remember, I know the road, I know there's no side turnings, despite it being dark), hold the throttle exactly where it is & ignore the light. In that situation, you've no idea how long you'll be there (I'd guess a max of 5mins depending on the setting for the lights), and there's NOTHING coming the other way.

Sometimes the lights have a sensor which can pick up oncoming traffic if the lights are red, and change them to give you priority...can be worth flashing your lights to see if the sensor picks this up on your approach, and the lights may change by the time you get there...

understand what you are saying, but at the end of the day its a red light and should not be crossed...could be a cyclist with only a rear light coming the other way, and he/she woulf have proceeded in the green light, but you may not see them...? Hypothetical of course...but you get my point....

Re: To jump or not to jump: special red light circumstance

I'd usually just get ready to go when I saw the other cars stop. If it was a huge delay then after a while I'd be tempted to go, so long as I was sure there was no other reason for the delay e.g. a side road with extra lights being given time to get out.

Roadworks signals and signs aren't as legally backed as normal road signs - you can usually exceed the speed limits and ignore the stop go signs and lights (so long as you don't cause an accident) and the worst you can get is a small fine. If it's safe and there are no cops about, it's fair game, but be warned you'll probably get pulled for it even if you're not doing anything dangerous, just for jumping a red.

Re: To jump or not to jump: special red light circumstance

You have to wait!! A little story of mine illustrates this: We had temporary lights at a roadworks for months, and they always seemed to have an unusually long wait while both sets were red. One day, whilst we were both on red, a car came flying out of a tiny side road, and it was only then that I realised these were actually THREE way lights, it was just a tiny side-road that never had anyone on it. I would have crashed if I had jumped the lights. Just be patient and wait!!