There I am feeling pleased with myself after doing a defensive driving course today (and getting the best assessment score that the IAM instructor had ever given out!) and driving home on my usual route (A30).

I stop at the traffic lights at Hatton Cross (front of the queue) and pull away as the lights change (as I've done HUNDREDS of times before) and the traffic light camera flashed (I think twice)

I am 100% sure that I didn't jump a red light (I NEVER would and NEVER have)...... the facing lights opposite definately changed several seconds after I saw the lights for the road that crosses the A30 turn red.

I know the S is quick away from the lights but is it so quick that it can fool the traffic light camera into thinking you've jumped a red?

I may have started moving while the lights were still amber (which technically could be classed as moving too soon????) but I wasn't in any more of a rush than normal and this hasn't happened before on any other traffic lights.

What are my chances of the plod using some descretion when they see I haven't gone through a red? anyone else have this happen?..... if so what was the result?

 

Firstly, are you sure you weren't looking at the wrong set of traffic lights?

I cannot remember the junction, but there are some that are so confusing I've shot red lights by accident. (Usually when a Pelican crossing is too close, etc)

Failing that, I should defend it. It sounds like it's another faulty camera.

 

Yep certain

 

I thought they were video cameras anyway not flashing cameras ??

 

The light will show on the picture so get that first!

 

I know that junction, it's a fairly simple one (unlike the one at Ashford Hospital which often catches unwary BMW drivers out :LOL) - I guess the photo will show whether the light actually was red or not....

 

Yes the A30 Ashford one is really bad...... probably once every three changes you'll get some muppet race across the red light as the right turn lights go amber......

The Hatton Cross light couldn't have been red...... I didn't even put the car in gear until it changed so I'm just paraniod that their system will issue a ticket regardless of the evidence........ however if a picture shows me and a red light in the same shot I can only assume that I was abducted by aliens for a second or two?

 

I did once see a camera flashing an empty junction, each time the light turned to red one night.

Now, either Elvis Presley was riding Shergar through there and I couldn't see it beacause I don't believe in all that crap, or else the camera was FUBAR.

So you could well be innocent.