Red light runners

[Big Dave]

Saw a quite amazing amount of people go through red lights today.
After seriously checking my mirrors I stopped easily at several on a run out to Maraeti via Botany and thought 'this bloke next to me isn't even going to try' - and bugger me 4 cars went through AFTER him. And it happened more than once.

Look left AND right before you launch from the lights kids! Force yourself to do it - there's some retards out there.

Go Bykey cop.

[thealmightytaco]

Yeah I watched a guy tonight, was watching the other guys lights, saw them go amber and got ready for my go, had a look around and saw him comin', bat outta hell shootin' the gap. I got the green just as he crossed over his give way lines leaving his lane to then make the corner and move past me, totally oblivious. Terrible state of affairs.

[buellbabe]

You should checkout the Major intersection at Manukau... I am always really careful on my bike there but have to admit that when I am in my car I lose all patience for the dickheads that are #4 in a line of cars running the red, YES the RED not the Amber!!! At the risk of sounding like a lunatic ...there was 1 time I lost it and started across the intersection (afterall I DID have the green folks!) with my horn blaring and #4 runner was force to stop and back up cos my forward motion started everyone else as well. It would seem I wasn't the only person alittle ticked off!!! he he he :bash:

[miSTa]

When was the last you were in Christchurch? You haven't seen anything until you've been here - very very bad :mad:

[Sniper]

Thats too true ZZR, the bloosy arses down this wek on the way to work this morning......... Argh!

[placidfemme]

Unfortunatley this is something that happens everyday, they even had an article in the "Max" free magazine and one tip for living in Auckland was "Wait 5 seconds before going on a Green light because Aucklanders always run the red".

They should have Red light cameras at the intersections to catch these bastards and fine them!

[Lou Girardin]

I regularly see multiple red light runners do it in front of cops on Onewa Rd.
Granted, they aren't speeding and are wearing their seatbelts.
So no harm done.

[Flyingpony]

It's always nice to have a bus/truck on one side of you. They'll take the hit.

I always look left and right before heading across just to ensure all lanes have stopped. Have had cars beside me many times gun it when they could easily have stopped like I did - they ran the red too.

Where's the cop when you need them.

[Grahameeboy]

They learn early on pedal bikes as riders always ignore red lights even when people are crossing....they are still bound by Road Code.

Problem here is that light sequence is designed for doing this as the time between changes is long so drivers know they can get away with it. In the UK the time is almost instant so if Kiwi's went to UK and did the same thing they would almost certainly have an accident.

How many times do you see a cop car waiting at lights for offenders....our survey said ???

I went on a green light after changing from Red in London years ago and this geezer jumps the lights and collision avoidable.....luck was on my side that day!

[bugjuice]

the amount of runners I've seen lately is just sickening. I've always checked before launching from the lights.

I saw a cop with a camcorder the other day actually, outside my work. He just popped the cam on a wall and left it for 10 minutes or so. In the 2 minutes I was waiting at the lights 6 cars ran reds..

I've been crossing the road too, when the green man shows. I nearly get hit by cars every day. Hopefully one day I will, then they might just think twice about running reds..

[placidfemme]

I've been crossing the road too, when the green man shows. I nearly get hit by cars every day. Hopefully one day I will, then they might just think twice about running reds..

Be careful what you wish for... I find that people don't stop at pedestrian crossings and Sam always lectures me about just walking... and I always responded with "well if they hit me, they have broken the law and are fully liable, bring it on" until one day a right prick in a hatchback didn't bother to slow down or stop and Sam pulled me out the way about 2 seconds before he hit me... scared the crap outta me... now I do look, wait and look again... then walk...

Also about 2 years ago walking to work, crossing the lights on Fanshaw St and Halsey St, the little green man flashed, so I started to cross, a black civic tried to run the red from the right hand turning lane, didn't see me because of the other two rows of cars, and I didn't see him for the same reason (didn't even look actually) and as I got even with his line he saw me, braked, skidded and hit me sideways, luckily his brakes worked well, knocked me off my feet, hit my head on some part of the car and my arm broke off his side mirror...

He jumped out the car and the first thing he said was "you broke my fucking mirror" :mad:

hmm... so yeah be careful what you wish for...

[Grahameeboy]

Crazy....I was crossing a zebra crossing with my Daughter who has a powered wheelchair and this geezer just carry's on as we were half way across.......didn't even know we were there and we had crossed when he was no where near the crossing....just that Nats is slow across zebra crossings.

[bugjuice]

it's a shame we don't live in a country that can sue the pants off pricks like that. If they hit me, it's my excuse to go round and hit them. Bring it on.. fuckers. I can bounce.

[scumdog]

We have banned traffic-lights in the Riviera of the South to prevent such behaviour.

[Grahameeboy]

We have banned traffic-lights in the Riviera of the South to prevent such behaviour.

So one less traffic light then!!

Funny you should say that...slightly different....but in UK a town took away policing traffic and the traffic flowed better because drivers had to work together so wonder whether the same would happen with less traffic lights? I mean do they really help traffic flow....Fanshawe Street is a traffic light hell and traffic is hell too.

[Monsterbishi]

There is a simple solution to this:

automated road spikes that pop up on the white lines as soon as the lights turn red - would take a week, tops before folks always slowed down on the orange.

[Grahameeboy]

it's a shame we don't live in a country that can sue the pants off pricks like that. If they hit me, it's my excuse to go round and hit them. Bring it on.. fuckers. I can bounce.

Sadly it would be even worse if we could sue as in UK or America.....trust me BG I handled large Personal Injury claims back in UK and it is not a nice society.

[Ixion]

I do not understand why if cops can manage speed camera cars, to fine folk for something that is not really dangerous, they cannot manage manned red light camera cars to fine people for something that is dangerous. Hook the camera shutter up to the light contolling gizmo, and it's all on. And the $150 max fine shows the stupidity of those who write the rules!

[sAsLEX]

What gets me is some of the terrible phasing around auckland, like sitting there well after peak traffic times and the light phases are still waiting for the huge non-existent ques!!!! Other thing that gets me is 1-2 second green phases!

[bugjuice]

Sadly it would be even worse if we could sue as in UK or America.....trust me BG I handled large Personal Injury claims back in UK and it is not a nice society.
hey, my mum got 10g's from the Post Office when one of their vans rammed the back of her car.. Can't get that kinda dough here for such agony..

[Da Bird]

I do not understand why if cops can manage speed camera cars, to fine folk for something that is not really dangerous, they cannot manage manned red light camera cars to fine people for something that is dangerous. Hook the camera shutter up to the light contolling gizmo, and it's all on. And the $150 max fine shows the stupidity of those who write the rules!

It would have something to do with the legislation. Speed camera offences specifically allow police to fine the registered owner of the vehicle and it is up to the owner to prove they were not driving.

For an offence such as red light running, it is the driver who must receive the ticket, therefore the time involved in tracking down the driver is much greater. I have used a video camera several times and 1-2 hours on the video can create 8 hours of paperwork and reviewing video etc. It is extremely time consuming.

I would definitely agree with an increase in the fine for red light running and add demerit points too!

BC.

[Grahameeboy]

hey, my mum got 10g's from the Post Office when one of their vans rammed the back of her car.. Can't get that kinda dough here for such agony..

and just for a whiplash....would have included loss of earnings but not bad eh?

[Ixion]

That is why I said manned cameras. The camera for evidence (since red light running is arguable), and cop on bike to catch the perpetrator on the spot. Thoiugh a law change to put onus on registered owner would be good too. Another thing for BRONZ to take up!

[chris]

Everyone deplores it and has seen it done.....so just who is running red lights?

Tip of the iceberg I reckon. What about those who regularly cross the centre line, don't indicate, pull out from intersections directly in front of you - after looking - and see nothing wrong with it!!

[chris]

and cop on bike to catch the perpetrator on the spot. There's an awful lot of traffic lights in NZ...

[Ixion]

That's OK. Lots of cops in NZ too. Train ALL cops on bikes (don't have to be big ones, small bike would be better for red light work). Then put ALL cops on red light duty. :whistle:

[chris]

My opinion...

Put 50% of the traffic cops on the beat, walking residential areas etc. This would also give them a taste of what it is like to be a real policeman.
Then allow drivers to actually concentrate on their driving and where they are going rather than staring at the dash to make sure they don't drift over the posted limit.

[buellbabe]

We do have an awful lot of traffic lights in this country... my dad was from the UK and he was amazed that you could be in a 100km zone and then suddenly have to come to a halt for friggin traffic lights!
Anyways aren't roundabouts sposed to improve traffic flow and cut down on lights??? YEAH RIGHT.

[Big Dave]

I would definitely agree with an increase in the fine for red light running and add demerit points too!

BC.


Back home in OZ - it' automated - the cameras are fixed, the fine huge and so are the demerits.
it's automatically sent to the registered owner of the vehicle.
He cops it - or identifies who was driving at the time. same with speed cameras - all they are here is a fee. not really a deterent.

[Grahameeboy]

We do have an awful lot of traffic lights in this country... my dad was from the UK and he was amazed that you could be in a 100km zone and then suddenly have to come to a halt for friggin traffic lights!
Anyways aren't roundabouts sposed to improve traffic flow and cut down on lights??? YEAH RIGHT.

But driver don't understand roundabout rules either.........Road Code 'Roundabouts' is confusing too....

[ManDownUnder]

I'm getting an air horn fitted for just that reason...

See 'em coming, ease forward a little and hit the horn - scare the SHIT out of them.

[scumdog]

My opinion...

Put 50% of the traffic cops on the beat, walking residential areas etc. This would also give them a taste of what it is like to be a real policeman.
Then allow drivers to actually concentrate on their driving and where they are going rather than staring at the dash to make sure they don't drift over the posted limit.

or run a red light or fail to indicate or fail to give way or..... - is THAT the reason why so many do those things???? - staring at the dash all the time???:wacko:


Nice troll.

"course if you DO have to constantly stare at the dash to make sure you don't go over the posted limit the rest of us are in serious trouble if we're on the same stretch of road.

[Colapop]

We watched a bike cop give out 8 tickets at the lights beside the Wellington Railway Station this morning (In the sun before it started pissing down). One of them was for one of our guys from work! Oh the shame in the car park beside the building stopped with lights and siren going!! $150 fine for running the orange....

[spudchucka]

That is why I said manned cameras. The camera for evidence (since red light running is arguable), and cop on bike to catch the perpetrator on the spot. Thoiugh a law change to put onus on registered owner would be good too. Another thing for BRONZ to take up!
The better option would be to have video recording ability in patrol cars. All that would be required then would be for the cop to deploy his / her vehicle in a manner that allowed the video camera to capture the offender running the red light. The same cop would then stop and ticket the driver knowing that he has the video evidence safely recorded.

To have a cop operating a static camera and another cop to chase and write tickets would be a waste of limited resources.

[Ixion]

Well, I don't think it would have to be a cop operating the camera, so long as it was a cop did the stopping. And problem with a patrol car is it could be hard to catch people in heavy traffic - hence bikes . But I'd go with anything that got the bastidges stopped and ticketed. Not many things I come down on, cos there's usually judgement factors involved (like speeding) , but red light running I do. It's always dangerous, and to other people, and there's very very rarely any excuse.

EDIT: Why don't cop cars have video cameras? They're cheap enough, and would presumably save some arguments both at the roadside and in court. I would have sorta assumed they'd be standard issue.

[chris]

Nice troll. Ta, you bit.

[Lou Girardin]

Auck City traffic ran red light cameras, then they were merged and the cameras suddenly became too much trouble.
Part of the problem is the crazy phasing of traffic lights. especially on the shore.
I see a lot of drivers treating them as stop signs now - check it's clear and go.

[sAsLEX]

Part of the problem is the crazy phasing of traffic lights. especially on the shore.
I see a lot of drivers treating them as stop signs now - check it's clear and go.

I do that now, some one fuckin needs shooting over some of them aye

[c4.]

Been waiting for a red light running thread.
Tuesday, was pulling onto ponsonbsy rd from williamson, waiting opposite in hepburn was chap (ess?) on a suzuki waiting patiently, patiently, ahh green light. Obviously had been thru intersection before as he didn't jump the light, Being Ak, light goes orange, 3 cars squeeze thru, light goes red 2 more cars have once seen orange feel validated to go thru, then 3 seconds after light goes red, police car crashes light as biker pulles out, biker sees cop, takes evasive action, cop belatedly turns lights and siren on.
Aha! I think, he's got the car before him for running the red.
But no, I get my green and pull around the corner coming up to patrol car, inside 4 young uniforms laughing and chatting.
IMHO they had missed the change whilst chatting, nearly hit the bike, covered up by hitting siren, then, after the guy in front must have shat hisself, they turned it off and sat at the next red, right behind same car.
If it had been me on the bike, I would've felt within my rights to 'ask' the question.

[Lou Girardin]

They were obviously on the way to a job and were told to stand down.:rolleyes:

[c4.]

For tui ....

[c4.]

for tui....

[scumdog]

They were obviously on the way to a job and were told to stand down.:rolleyes:

You have no idea how true this may be and how often it happens.:yeah:

[burn-out gurl]

ill admit i sometimes forget to indicate or something like that, but i always realise as soon as ive done it & feel like a real dick aye

[JohnR]

IMHO Bikey Cop (and others) have said it all.:Police:
The return on investment is not high enough, i.e. it's to hard for the Police (the organisation, not the individuals) to generate enough revenue without increased cost.:violin:

Also our instinct for self preservation works against because obviously the number of incidents at traffic lights is not significant enough to warrant a campaign, e.g. "ticking bombs" at uncontrolled intersections.:doh:

So get out there and become statistics so we can get some action!:2thumbsup

[scumdog]

IMHO Bikey Cop (and others) have said it all.:Police:
The return on investment is not high enough, i.e. it's to hard for the Police (the organisation, not the individuals) to generate enough revenue without increased cost.:violin:

Also our instinct for self preservation works against because obviously the number of incidents at traffic lights is not significant enough to warrant a campaign, e.g. "ticking bombs" at uncontrolled intersections.:doh:

So get out there and become statistics so we can get some action!:2thumbsup


True, true JohnR - but who wants to be the sacrifice???

We need more staff of high quality - but will the Helengrad occupants give us that??:no:

[Big Dave]

*Or*
You can simply remember that there are lots of cheese dicks in cars who's petty little lives have them so wound up that they can't be arsed stopping at red lights any more and it's only a matter of time before they injure someone.

Be aware of it and make sure it isn't you before you gas it.

[scumdog]

*Or*
You can simply remember that there are lots of cheese dicks in cars who's petty little lives have them so wound up that they can't be arsed stopping at red lights any more and it's only a matter of time before they injure someone.

Be aware of it and make sure it isn't you before you gas it.

Yep, there is a shit-load of pencil-necked cheese-dicks whose time is SO important that they can't wait 2 minutes at a set of lights, it's all ME Me me.

Let 'em try that down here with all our uncontrolled intersections, the first prang would see them tied up for 20 minutes+, worse if they couldn't source another vehicle.
THEN they would see how the rest of the world see the value of their time.

[JohnR]

Yeah. I suppose if a "Red Runners" campaign did come about the Police (the individuals, not the organisation) would have yet more work to fit into their day. :buggerd:
And more "law abiding citizens" being persecuted by vindictive, revenue collecting "cops" who should be out catching real criminals.:slap:
So probably not a flash idea:doh:

[scumdog]

Yeah. I suppose if a "Red Runners" campaign did come about the Police (the individuals, not the organisation) would have yet more work to fit into their day. :buggerd:
And more "law abiding citizens" being persecuted by vindictive, revenue collecting "cops" who should be out catching real criminals.:slap:
So probably not a flash idea:doh:

So you could say that speeders, drink-driver, red-light runners are the ones responsible for keeping cops from dealing with the real criminals, sort of 'parties to the crime', the REAL contributors to present day crime???

[KLOWN]

I thought red light cameras were the ones in the grey boxes near intersections? When I was saving up for a car I had a 85(?) skyline, very good mechcanically(sp) but was shitty outside and was worth about $500 I tried to hit red light runners when i got the green was quite fun and got lots of surprised people swerving out my way:niceone: I've also kicked in some car panels when crosssing the road (with the green man lit up) and the car ran a red. My fav though was when I was in new market and was about to cross the one way street by two double seven and an old lady was already crossing the road and a car turning right into the road had to hit the brakes to not hit the old lady (she was already crossing the road and the car shouldn't have gone, I can only assume he didn't c her) and he sat on the horn nand yelled at her to get outta the way you old hag, blah blah, blah. I walked up to the driver side window and yelled in his face (about an inch way) that he ain't no spring chicken and he was in the wrong etc, it shut him up real quick and he went bright red and all the onlookers were giiving the driver dirty looks. was really funny.

[JohnR]

I think we have the making of a conspiracy theory here Scumdog!:msn-wink:
Errant motorists being used by organised crime to keep the "heat" off their activities:innocent:

[scumdog]

I think we have the making of a conspiracy theory here Scumdog!:msn-wink:
Errant motorists being used by organised crime to keep the "heat" off their activities:innocent:

Hah! So it is not just me, others have realised what the real problem is!!

These organise crime types are soooo sneaky!!

Now know to ignore all traffic offences and to focus on these bad criminal types, like the drongo who walked into the pole on 20/20 tonight!! - remove all poles.
Ohh yes, drugs make people smarter!!


Efing spitting lack-witted leech on society!

[JohnR]

Yes. And the "occupants of Helengrad" are either in on it, run it, don't really care as long as they don't get any of the shit on them:whistle: or are just to dumb to see it:wacko:

[scumdog]

Yes. And the "occupants of Helengrad" are either in on it, run it, don't really care as long as they don't get any of the shit on them:whistle: or are just to dumb to see it:wacko:

The only time Helen&Co worry about cops is when there is a screw-up, and THEN they can't wait to dump on them.
Could be worse, I could be an MP!!

If I was in the 'cack' because of Sir Helen I would make damn sure she came along for the ride too.

[scumdog]

This actually hapens to us a lot. In some situations its crazy... wa waaing through town and all this traffic and shit, and the hot dispatcher shreiks at us to stand down cause its all over red rover. Then all the car drivers are staring at us and I'm looking back and I'm all like.. WTF???:spudwhat:

I know what you mean, I often shoot up a side road out of sight after getting stood-down just so the boss doesn't get calls about 'the cop-car flying past and then turns his lights off'
They'd never understand

[Lou Girardin]

I don't think you'd get many city drivers bleating "revenue collecting" at red light blitzes. The recipient would, but who gives a damn about them.

[MisterD]

Anyways aren't roundabouts sposed to improve traffic flow and cut down on lights??? YEAH RIGHT.

Just you wait until we have roundabouts with traffic lights on them......you'd think it would defeat the purpose, but...

[sAsLEX]

Yep we had a couple of those in Aussie. During peak periods the traffic lights would operate. At night or the weekends it was the roundabout.

What I need at the end of my street, they just replaced the round about with traffic lights, a pain in the arse out of peak times!

[marty]

the best example of red light runners i've seen is waiting at the end of wiri station rd, to turn right onto roscommom rd. i was first in the que, right hand lane. for 2 phases the left lane of the north bound roscommon traffic carried on crashing the red light through the whole phase of green for wiri station traffic, until the petrol tanker next to me got fucked off with it, and on our next green (we had sat there for nearly 5 minutes, through 2 green phases) he just pulled into the traffic flow, driving straight into the fuel depot. a nose to tail ensued in the intersection as the roscommon traffic was travelling so fast....

[buellbabe]

Hey Marty, yeah thats the intersection I was referring to in my earlier post... Its one of the biggest intersections in the country!!! And 1 of the most dangerous!

[imdying]

If I was in the 'cack' because of Sir Helen I would make damn sure she came along for the ride too.As I would hope all cops would now that it's a fact that she'll screw you as soon as look at you.

[Ixion]

As I would hope all cops would now that it's a fact that she'll screw you as soon as look at you.

I am unconvinced that Helen has EVER screwed a man.

[Big Dave]

I am unconvinced that Helen has EVER screwed a man.

Bugger me! Controversy from the IX man!

[Skyryder]

The only time Helen&Co worry about cops is when there is a screw-up, and THEN they can't wait to dump on them.
Could be worse, I could be an MP!!

If I was in the 'cack' because of Sir Helen I would make damn sure she came along for the ride too.

Well if you are her driver and you get done by your brothers just can't see how the passanger is to blame. I have no great love for Helen Clarke but if you take the oppositions position on this (that she is responsible for her drivers speeding) then it can be postulated that any passanger can be held accountable for the drivers behavour. This would also apply to pillion passangers. What pisses me off is that three of the drivers have won an appeal on their convictions. Just on what grounds I have no idea. But it makes a mockery of the speeding laws.

Skyryder

[Lou Girardin]

Perhaps the court believed they were ordered to do it and that they also believed she had the authority to do so.

[marty]

Well if you are her driver and you get done by your brothers just can't see how the passanger is to blame. I have no great love for Helen Clarke but if you take the oppositions position on this (that she is responsible for her drivers speeding) then it can be postulated that any passanger can be held accountable for the drivers behavour. This would also apply to pillion passangers. What pisses me off is that three of the drivers have won an appeal on their convictions. Just on what grounds I have no idea. But it makes a mockery of the speeding laws.

Skyryder

it's not that the passenger was held accountable, it is that there is legislation that covers this sort of driving:


(6)Subsection (1)(c) does not apply if the vehicle—


(a)Was an ambulance fitted with a siren or bell, and at the time was being used on urgent ambulance service; or

(b)Was conveying a member of the Police in the execution of urgent duty, if compliance with the speed limit would be likely to prevent or hinder the execution of that duty; or

(c)Was being used by a fire brigade for attendance at fires or other emergencies, and at the time was being used on urgent fire-brigade service.


you'll note that it is not only the 5-0 that have this defence.

[marty]

you may also notice that there is no requirement for police to have sirens activated.