Given that this has happened to me three times now...

[Digby]

...has anyone else stopped at a set of temporary lights and had cars go around your vehicle because they assume, for whatever reason, you have just decided to stop in the road?

It happened to me again a few weeks ago.

I stopped at a red light for roadworks and after approx ten seconds of watching the driver behind crane his neck to see what was happening, he and another car just went round my vehicle and were faced with oncoming traffic! This despite there being signs to show there were roadworks and none of the signs were obscured by my vehicle.

Obviously the lack of forward vision and of observation is to blame and as I suggest, the assumption that the odd larger vehicle may have simply stopped to do a delivery etc. I'm not talking about drivers simply wanting to jump a red as they can't be bothered to wait because on another occasion, the exact same thing happened but just as they realised their mistake, the light went green in our favour (no other cars had passed through this set coming towards us fortunately) and the driver abandoned his desperate 'tucking in to the cones' attempt and carried on.

The first time this happened, the driver had to reverse in to someones drive to let all the cars go through as there was no room to tuck in at the front.

Is it just me?

• Given* in title - my 'n' failed work..

[Geekman]

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

[hillbob]

I would seriously think again before going through a red light.

The workmen can see which light is on Red and Green, so are not expecting a car from the side that is Red.

There could be a time they have set both to red for a couple of minutes so it should be safe (maybe to cross, or move equipment) but it's not safe because some tt who decides he is more important than everyone else can't be bothered to wait.

[Countdown]

Geekman said:

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

[Countdown]

Geekman said:

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

[Cliftonite]

Countdown said:

Geekman said:

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

Do you have a Driving Licence? And passed a test?

[Nickyboy]

I've had it happen numerous times, sat at temp lights, indicating at a small junction a couple of cars back etc etc, some people just don't look further than the end of their bonnet.

This was one example

[SidJames]

Countdown said:

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

yeah, same as left turns at a red light are okay.

[hillbob]

Countdown said:

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

Well I hope I'm never on the road near you then. And especially when your do something like that.

I expect you do this in front of the police? As that is 'your understanding'

[hillbob]

Geekman said:

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

Same goes for you.

You would'nt do it at a junction or similar that is controlled by fixed lights, camera or at temporary in front of the police so don't put others life at risk doing it at temporary lights.

[Geekman]

What happened to people using common sense? Yes, obviously, if there are workmen there, you don't go through. If there are cars there, you don't go through. If you can't see the other side, you don't go through.

But, if none of these things apply (which seems to happen to me quite a lot), I'll happily go through. I wouldn't if I had a police car behind me, in the same way that I'm quite happy to drive at 90MPH on the motorway, but I wouldn't do it if I was going past a police car. Again, common sense.

[castex]

No way. Red light means stop. Every single time.

[Countdown]

hillbob said:

Countdown said:

That's always been my understanding as well. As long as you're sure you won't hit anything it's perfectly fine to go through them.

Well I hope I'm never on the road near you then. And especially when your do something like that.

I expect you do this in front of the police? As that is 'your understanding'

Apologies as I missed a "roll-eyes" smiley. People who go through red lights annoy the fking crap out of me. It's yet another example of tttish behaviour that more and more people think is OK because "no kittens were killed".

[Joeguard1990]

So if the red light was broken and just stuck on red or the sensor is not working( I have seen this loads of times), you would just sit there and not go through the red...?

I;m with the people stating common sense applies. If it literally takes two seconds to go around the roadworks and there is nothing the other side then I don't see an issue, they are simply there to control traffic flow when there are cars wanting to go through on both sides.

[mph1977]

Geekman said:

If I can see the other side of the roadworks and there's no cars waiting and no junctions I'll do it, never into oncoming traffic though.

temporay traffic lights are 'more' powerful than fixed .. they have NO exemptions

[mph1977]

Joeguard1990 said:

So if the red light was broken and just stuck on red or the sensor is not working( I have seen this loads of times), you would just sit there and not go through the red...?

I;m with the people stating common sense applies. If it literally takes two seconds to go around the roadworks and there is nothing the other side then I don't see an issue, they are simply there to control traffic flow when there are cars wanting to go through on both sides.

there are no exemptions in law to temporary lights other than direction by a constable or authorised person who is Physically present ...

[Geekman]

mph1977 said:

temporay traffic lights are 'more' powerful than fixed .. they have NO exemptions

Well that's good, because I never claimed I had any kind of exemption.