Welcome to the real worldThe Garda was completely unwilling to discuss the matter with me, as I suppose they are in most cases. However, I cannot help but feel I was pulled over completely because I was a young driver driving a BMW. I feel completely hard done by – I imagine that if I had been a 40 year man/women driving a Micra then I wouldn’t have been pulled over.
Was it a surprise to you to learn that amber lights are generally followed by red shortly afterwards?The light was certainly not red when I went through the junction, although it more than likely was red by the time I got to the other side of the junction.
Was it a surprise to you to learn that amber lights are generally followed by red shortly afterwards?
An amber light means that you must not go beyond the stop line or, if there is no stop line, beyond the light. However, you may go on if you are so close to the line or the light when the amber light first appears that stopping would be dangerous.
The speed limit in the area is 60Km/h. I was driving in traffic, so my speed could have been slightly less or slightly more. ....The Garda never mentioned that my speed entering the junction was excessive.
They just had a good look at who was in the car – I’m a young individual driving a BMW.
I appreciate that, but a good driver will slow down when approaching traffic lights, so that if the light goes amber, they will be able to stop safely.
If I got caught going through an amber light, I would just take the hit.
Well it's only one incident, but let's look at the evidence you provide:Also, am I right to assume that you are of the opinion that I am not a good driver?
The speed limit in the area is 60Km/h. I was driving in traffic, so my speed could have been slightly less or slightly more.
Were you not aware of these before?I’ve looked over the guidelines in relation to stopping at lights. They read as follows;
60 kmph is roughly equal to 17 metres per second. If the lights went amber just as you entered the junction, and were red before you exited the junction, and the amber was present for say 3 seconds (though it is usually more than this), this means the junction was 50 metres wide!Brendan I appreciate your point. However there is always a point in time - just as the lights go amber where a car is just entering the junction. It was that exact moment today. The stopping momentum of a car is not instantaneous. I firmly believe that it just wasn't possible for me to stop at those lights this morning, I would have ended up in the middle of the junction.
My son was stopped by the Garda when he was following a high lorry and did not see them change but he would not discuss it.
60 kmph is roughly equal to 17 metres per second. If the lights went amber just as you entered the junction, and were red before you exited the junction, and the amber was present for say 3 seconds (though it is usually more than this), this means the junction was 50 metres wide!
So, was the junction really 50m wide? Or is it just possible that it went amber BEFORE you entered the junction?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?