Eek my mistake!

downfader

I got the timing of two sets of lights slightly wrong today. :oops:

First was a pedestrian/toucan crossing and I'm approaching at about 20mph I'd guess. I get within 15 feet and someone presses the button and amber comes on. Now these lights are pretty quick changers and tbh I think I should have read the road a little better but it was too late to stop imo.

Also as I headed down hill, following the general flow of traffic nothing too fast. I get to the line or about 5 feet and it goes amber. I hate this particular junction if it does (Thomas Lewis Way and St Denys rd lights if you wish to google) go amber as I hit the line it will be red before I get all the way across and drivers to my left will be going green. Drivers waiting to turn right from the opposite side of St Denys are also a risk. :shock:

Amazingly I realised a car had followed me through (suprised, not really).

I have to say I HATE going through on an amber as to me that means stop. What do you people think? I think I might just cool it around these two areas to be on the safe side.

flicksta

downfader wrote:

I got the timing of two sets of lights slightly wrong today. :oops:

First was a pedestrian/toucan crossing and I'm approaching at about 20mph I'd guess. I get within 15 feet and someone presses the button and amber comes on. Now these lights are pretty quick changers and tbh I think I should have read the road a little better but it was too late to stop imo.

Also as I headed down hill, following the general flow of traffic nothing too fast. I get to the line or about 5 feet and it goes amber. I hate this particular junction if it does (Thomas Lewis Way and St Denys rd lights if you wish to google) go amber as I hit the line it will be red before I get all the way across and drivers to my left will be going green. Drivers waiting to turn right from the opposite side of St Denys are also a risk. :shock:

Amazingly I realised a car had followed me through (suprised, not really).

I have to say I HATE going through on an amber as to me that means stop. What do you people think? I think I might just cool it around these two areas to be on the safe side.

Isn't amber 'stop if it is safe to do so'. As you say, given your experience maybe you might have anticipated it, but people do plenty worse.

davmaggs

An interesting twist on the usual debates.

On the whole I stop, but there are times when you are going at speed and trying to halt in a hurry because you've been caught out would be more risky than going through a junction. If a ped is already on the way over though, then this needs reassessing.

Each junction is different and I'm fairly sure that most people have been caught out at some time.

downfader

Thankfully no pedestrian stepped out. I'd have been mortified if I'd have risked someone like that. But it does happen on that crossing, people press and wander into the road, esp if they're young. Thats why I'm usually more weary of it tbh.

will3

OMG you ALJ? That's sooo dangerous

Slow Downcp

In fairness if you'd slammed the brakes on at the second set, the car that went through behind you would probably have gone through you.

cee

Slow Downcp wrote:

In fairness if you'd slammed the brakes on at the second set, the car that went through behind you would probably have gone through you.

shudder....probably true.

downfader

cee wrote:

Slow Downcp wrote:

In fairness if you'd slammed the brakes on at the second set, the car that went through behind you would probably have gone through you.

shudder....probably true.

Possibly not, driver was behind me but thankfully far enough right. Probably why I noticed the car so easily.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Bitterne triangle to anywhere in the vacinity of Benny Hill's gravestone (yep, the infamous 70/80s comedian) is an absolute nightmare during rush hour traffic, if one travels via St Denys Road / Highfield Lane / Hill Lane.

Those lights where your incident happened are horrid to pass through. Missing a green light opportunity can cost you at least five minutes, as Cobden Bridge becomes a bottleneck for all and sundry on their way home. Consequently, I've seen loads of amber gambling at the crossroads at Thomas Lewis Way. You did well to follow your gut instinct and keep going, as not all those gamblers will position themselves so early to give a cyclist room!

I'm repeating old ground here, but I so much more enjoyed my old commute via Priory Rd; Avenue Rd; Southampton Common; Bellmoor Rd; Malvern Rd etc.

If you have not gone that way for a while, Downfader, give it a go sometime soon for some stress relieving scenery with a smidgen extra mileage than your direct route

downfader

NitrousOxide wrote:

Bitterne triangle to anywhere in the vacinity of Benny Hill's gravestone (yep, the infamous 70/80s comedian) is an absolute nightmare during rush hour traffic, if one travels via St Denys Road / Highfield Lane / Hill Lane.

Those lights where your incident happened are horrid to pass through. Missing a green light opportunity can cost you at least five minutes, as Cobden Bridge becomes a bottleneck for all and sundry on their way home. Consequently, I've seen loads of amber gambling at the crossroads at Thomas Lewis Way. You did well to follow your gut instinct and keep going, as not all those gamblers will position themselves so early to give a cyclist room!

I'm repeating old ground here, but I so much more enjoyed my old commute via Priory Rd; Avenue Rd; Southampton Common; Bellmoor Rd; Malvern Rd etc.

If you have not gone that way for a while, Downfader, give it a go sometime soon for some stress relieving scenery with a smidgen extra mileage than your direct route

At the times I ride I usually miss the rushour or am before it. Traffic still gets a little busy after 7am though. Sadly the ride home is around school kicking out time due to the end of my shift.

I might note down that route and give it a go later. Keep forgetting about it tbh

Flasheart

Yes I can confirm that amber from red IS "if it's safe to do so"
Thanks to Dorset Driver Awareness Course I had to go to on Thursday Better than 3 points. :roll:

redvee

Flasheart wrote:

Yes I can confirm that amber from red IS "if it's safe to do so"

Thats good to know as I pass through a set of lights on red/amber if I get the timing from the previous set of lights right, only have to watch out for the buses as they don't have a light to stop at, just a normal junction.

choirboy

redvee wrote:

Flasheart wrote:

Yes I can confirm that amber from red IS "if it's safe to do so"

Thats good to know as I pass through a set of lights on red/amber if I get the timing from the previous set of lights right, only have to watch out for the buses as they don't have a light to stop at, just a normal junction.

Errr no... Red/amber together still means STOP just that it's about to go Green. Jumping Red/Amber is the same as jumping Red in the eyes of the law.

TheBigBean

Amber means stop if it is safe to do so. Until I'm fitted with brake lights, I think it is almost always unsafe to stop.

nigeve

I think it’s a very personal decision and very much depends on the condition you commute in. I wouldn’t think twice about going through an Amber light but my 11 miles in each direction only has one set of lights and one right turn and is 90% on cycle paths and quite(ish) country roads.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t danger around every corner and I keep my wits about me but it can’t be compared to cycling in London…
Yesterday at Pevensey Bay I was about to pull up at the main cross roads on a red light when I realised that there was no other traffic anywhere. It was one of those golden moments of peace. So I went straight through the light and thought nothing of it, seemed almost daft sitting at a red light with no other traffic around. However, sometimes that road is busy(ish) (by Eastbourne standards) and if I jumped a red on one of those days I’d expect to get knocked off.
One has to be careful not to be too judgemental because life isn’t always black and white…

prawny

I try and judge how easily I can stop if I see an Amber sometimes I think there's no way I can stop safely so just carry on through, I don't want to risk losing the back end and sliding into the middle of a junction on my ass.

downfader

prawny wrote:

I try and judge how easily I can stop if I see an Amber sometimes I think there's no way I can stop safely so just carry on through, I don't want to risk losing the back end and sliding into the middle of a junction on my ass.

Didnt one of the guys on here say he did that. Locked up the back wheel and went over? Could be wrong.

Well today was easier. More traffic about but the ground was wet on the way in so gently did it. Max speed of 28mph down a quiet hill but overall I didnt go much over 20. Very hot day too, so wasnt worth the effort.