Consequences of going through red lights

As everyday users of the road, we drivers sometimes forget that the Highway Code is there for a reason and the most important reason of all is security. Newly passed drivers tend to obey the Highway Code more than experienced drivers because everything they learnt is still fresh in their minds and they are more afraid of going against the law now that they’ve just got their full licence.

However experienced drivers are more comfortable on the roads and sometimes in a state of hurry to get somewhere, they find themselves jumping traffic lights because they know that waiting for the green lights will slow them down. The time for the green lights to appear depend on the number of traffic lights at the crossroad or junction in question and it could vary from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes and this impacts the waiting times at traffic signals.

Drivers should start to stop when seeing amber lights and should only proceed if the speed at which they are driving is too high for them to make a safe stop when they notice the amber lights. Jumping red lights at a traffic signal point can be fatal – other drivers may have already been given the green lights at another point at the junction and going through the red lights is dangerous as it can result in a very horrible accident.

Penalty for going through red traffic lights

To enforce the law and increase security on the roads, there are cameras fitted to some traffic lights which take photos of drivers going through red lights. The pictures are then sent to the careless drivers through the post with a message telling them that they are going to be prosecuted. They will then face a £60 fine and 3 points on their licence and sometimes discretionary disqualification from driving. This also means that a higher premium will be quoted for car insurance when it is time to renew because of this penalty.

So drive carefully and do not compromise security even when you are in a hurry!