I run a Popo section which does intersection checkpoints. It's coz intersection crashes are us, at least in Churchur.
Everyone you talk to is happy to tell you that hundreds of people go through red lights every day, all you have to do is watch a set of lights and you'll see lots of it.
Thing is, we DO sit at intersections watching traffic flows. I'm the spotter, I call the offences for my troops waiting down the road. I can testify that there aren't actually that many people going through red traffic lights.
Here's how the Road User Rule 2004 defines a red light offence........
5) While a steady red signal in the form of a disc is displayed or 2 alternately flashing red signals in the form of a disc are displayed,—
(a) a driver of a vehicle facing the signal or signals must not enter the controlled area, but a cyclist may enter ahead of a marked vehicle limit line and stop behind a marked cycle limit line:
So, to commit a red light offence, a light has to be red before the driver/rider ENTERS THE CONTROLLED AREA.
Nowhere is there a definition of what the controlled area is, I've looked. e use the old term, the intersection, hich is that area contained within the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines. So, a person does a red light if they enter the intersection while the light is red.
Now, I quite expect that I'll be deluged by folk telling me I should sit at Intersection A or Intersecton B, and I'll see hundreds of red light offences. Everyone seems to have their own favourite worst intersection. But none of them have spent the time I have, waiting for the elusive red light to happen.
We hammer yellow lights, those who just get into the intersection when the light goes red. This is NOT a red light offence.
Anyone in Churchur is welcome to nominate their favourite red light Mecca, then come and watch what happens when we stake it out.
Comments welcomed. Donuts too.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by rastuscat
Bookmarks