When Does Red Light Camera Go Off

Traffic light cameras at busy junctions play a vital role in keeping our roads safe. Merely if you lot've accidentally run a carmine light, it may not be clear whether or not yous've been caught.

Here nosotros'll cover what you lot demand to know – from what triggers the cameras, to what to do if yous retrieve y'all've been snapped.

How traffic light cameras piece of work

Traffic light (or 'red light') cameras detect vehicles which pass through lights after they've turned red by using sensors or ground loops in the road.

When traffic lights are on red, the system becomes active and the camera is set up to photo whatsoever machine that passes over the trigger.

It's an offence for any part of your vehicle to pass the white stop line if a traffic lite has turned carmine.

The vast majority of red lite cameras in the U.k. are made by Gatsometer.

These Gatso RLC 36 units besides accept built-in radar technology, with dual speed and cherry low-cal functions, then for the sake of prophylactic and the law, avoid the temptation to put your foot downwardly when they start to change.

Why do we demand traffic calorie-free cameras?

All traffic cameras are there for our condom. They're typically installed in loftier-risk areas, mayhap where someone has previously been injured or an blow has occurred afterwards a red light was run.

At busy junctions and crossings yous'll often also see smaller cameras on top of the lights themselves. These are at that place to assistance monitor traffic and congestion on roads, but exercise not flash for driving offences.

How will you know if you've been caught?

In that location'due south no guarantee y'all'll know y'all've been caught immediately, unless the camera unmistakably flashes.

But traffic light cameras don't always flash like Gatsometer's more common yellow box speed cameras, so it can be tricky to approximate if you fabricated it through in fourth dimension.

While Gatsometer cameras will produce a distinctive flash whenever taking a photo, newer versions of the Trevulo-D speed cameras – which tin can also double up as red light cameras – use an infra-red flash which isn't visible to the driver.

If your car is captured by either, you'll receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within xiv days, in one case the photo has been reviewed.

What happens if yous've been defenseless past a traffic light photographic camera?

The NIP will ask the registered owner to name the offending driver, complete each section and render it within 28 days.

In most cases, the notice will inquire for an admission of guilt and order the payment of a fixed penalty fine in place of taking the example to court.

You lot'll also have the right to entreatment a penalty detect if you feel you had mitigating circumstances for running a reddish light.

State highway cameras - which ones can take hold of you out?
Speed cameras – what you demand to know
What are the main driving offences and their punishments?

What defences tin I employ?

In all likelihood, very few. As a 'strict liability' offence, you won't get away with only insisting you 'didn't intend' to run the light, if photographic evidence proves you did.

The just circumstances which may offer a defence include:

Proving you did not get through the scarlet light
Proving in that location was a defect with the light or related signage

Further, special reasons may also exist considered past a courtroom and lead to a re-cess of your penalisation.

Withal, information technology is unlikely you volition be let off for allowing an emergency vehicle to pass.

The cost of running a red calorie-free

Aside from the most important price – the rubber of y'all and other route users – if caught, you lot'll be required to pay a fine.

The electric current penalisation for declining to stop for a scarlet light is ordinarily an £100 fine and iii points on your licence. The points will stay on record for four years.

If you fail to sign or respond to a NIP, or provide the details of the correct offending driver if disputed, you lot could face prosecution, six penalization points and a maximum fine of £g.

Most constabularies also offering educational courses to motorists who are defenseless running a cherry calorie-free.