Not a truck driver but please help. Ran a red light

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
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Hello there and thank you for reading

I’m not sure why I registered on this forum but I have been a member for a while
I have tried joining the correct forums but they need verification from the admins and I’m pretty much looking got some advice ASAP as I am in such a mess

Yesterday I ran a red light
I’ve been driving for 28 months and I absolutely worship my car and my licence

It took me longer than usual to pass my driving test because I was convinced I could never do it-
It meant so much to me to be able to take my sons on holiday and not worry about public transport ( I’m welling up now :frowning: )

My eldest son looks up to me as a driver and he loves our car

Yesterday my mind wasn’t really on it; someone had left a candle burning in my caravan and I was all of a mess thinking it’ll burn down.
I managed to get back and put it out but essentially that’s what caused the anxiety I then had from then on
I was driving down a road I use all the time looking straight ahead- and this woman, ( my car wasn’t anywhere near her don’t worry ) bolts across the road.
To me it looked as tho she was dodging traffic… The way she just ran across the road like that made it look as tho she didn’t have the right of way

I was so fixated on the fact the pedestrian ran into the road that I totally missed the red light on the pedestrian crossing.
As I went over it at 22mph I noticed out my mirror that the pedestrian crossing had turned to flashing amber - the lights had been on red for a long period of time when I went through them

The pedestrian was obviously running across the road to ensure she got over before the lights went to green; however, with the anxiety build up of leaving a candle burning in my caravan, and the fact that the lady appeared to be running into the road, I totally didn’t see the traffic lights Infront of me until it was too late

I have googled the junction and circled it 4 times to look for cameras but I didn’t see any. That being said they could’ve been hidden

When I went through it my eldest son said " mummy that was a red light what are you doing " and he started crying… He then proceeded to tell me how scared he was we would loose the car :frowning:
He’s 9 this year and loves cars, he wants to be a driver when he’s 17 and has asked me if he can go on a course for children that begin at 11 plus
He looks upto me as a driver, looks up to me as the driver of our magnificent car.
The disappointment on his face broke my heart when I went through that light and I can’t stop crying :frowning:

I’ve read that because the light was on red for so long that I’ll face an NIP instead of a FPN
I could be charged with dangerous driving even tho I made a genuine mistake

I would go to court simply to be able to tell a magistrate I am sorry and explain what had happened- I would prefer to go to court so they could see how truly sorry I am

I am in such a state about it and not sure how I’ll over come the worry and the anxious wait for the prosecution letter

What will happen to me? I’m not a dangerous driver - I am usually papped at for bein Too slow, snarled at for allowing other drivers to go left or right when I’m
On the main road and abuse hurled at me for letting people cross the road when there’s a queue of traffic.
I’m not an ignorant driver- I find myself quite courteous

I just don’t know what to do
How will I know whether I’ll get caught? There were no police in sight at the time

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated

I was also flashed by a 30mph speed sign- my speedo was showing 32. It’s very very rare that these signs pick up an accurate speed and it’s teen the first time in my drivers history that at 32mph on speedo I’ve been flashed by an average speed sign. My speedo is usually 3/4mph off. There was a grey camera a few feet Infront too
I’ve been told there are no cameras from Ingoldmells through to Skegness apart from at the main junctions
Please will you help me find out :frowning:

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I’ve street viewed the junctions

I couldn’t quite remember which it was but I’m pretty sure it’s the second junction image after the one showing a “camera” on a pole - is that a camera.
I’ll post in order they are on the street. They are pretty much one after the other!

How will I know whether there’s cameras

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I am afraid its very bad news, the last lady driver who did this at that junction was jailed for 3 years.

She came out with a real fondness for other women.

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Check the previous posts from this OP, either it’s a troll or she has problems with traffic lights! :smiley: :open_mouth:

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I think you are worrying a bit too much about this. If there are cameras and you did get photographed then the most likely worst case scenario is three points on your licence and a £100 fine.

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Martin:
Check the previous posts from this OP, either it’s a troll or she has problems with traffic lights! :smiley: :open_mouth:

And did you see some of the replies ? Even those were contradicting with that previous post.

I’m glad you find it funny I really am and I’ll be reminded not to come here again since I quite obviously shouldn’t be here anyway

Thank you to the one person who actually responded in a decent manner

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Don’t loose any sleep over it, the worst you will get is £100 fine & 3 points.
Probably no camera anyway, the flashing 30 mph sign is just out Nanny State smacking your wrist for creeping over the limit.
Lessons learned, watch what you are doing & keep to/below speed limits.

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Thank you Martin and Harry I appreciate your replies

I know I’ll not be offered the awareness course because of the length of time that the lights had been on red

There’s really no excuse for what I had done at all and I just can’t understand how I managed to do something like that on a road I have driven down a hundred of times before … I’m really rather upset about the whole thing. So much so I was going to go one step further and go to the local police.

The previous incident similar to this was basically crossing over a stop line on green, waiting in central reservation to turn right-above that reservation was a traffic light on red ( for those behind the stop line ) that red traffic light confused me at that time and I got myself in a bit of a flummox over it

I’m not as “dumb” as I sound…
And those are really the only two mistakes I’ve made in 2 years

However, this recent incident - well, utter stupidity :frowning:

I came back on here because when I posted my first thread someone PMed me saying if ever I need any help and advice to get in touch … I thought that was really sweet and so here I am again

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I understand its upsetting. I bought some chocolate raisins the other day.

When I got home, I realised I had picked up chocolate peanuts. Life is just not fair.

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Maybe you are a dangerous driver. Running a red light at a pedestrian crossing sounds dangerous to me.
Obviously you were not concentrating on what you were doing, something many drivers do and it can be very dangerous.
Learn from it and you will be ok. If you get prosecuted you deserve all you get but you might be lucky this time.
Whatever happens hopefully you have learned a valuable lesson.

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Bloody hell! I actually agree with '71 for once.

Even if you were preoccupied with thoughts of handles for forks, there really is no excuse for seeing a pedestrian crossing and going through on red,

Maybe you are a dangerous driver?

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I was concentrating too much on the lady who had ran into the road - the way she ran out like that distracted me as I thought she was running across without having the right of way. May I add she was not running from me, she had already got safety to the pavement before I went over the light

There’s no need to be so harsh. People make mistakes and unfortunately I made one

It’s not like these idiots who deliberately break the law on the road, it was a genuine mistake and yes lesson learned, but I don’t really need to be told how stupid I am or have jokes thrown at me like that

I simply came here for advice on what happens and how to find out whether there are cameras ( there was a website somewhere that disclosed this information )

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Hello Jeanine, please don’t let our more obtuse members put you off this forum.
Although the tough love approach can work as a more gentle poster I prefer a licked on by kittens technique.

Judging by your post this has caused you great concern, we all know what the worst thing that can happen in these situations is but I shouldn’t worry too much about losing your license just yet as from what you’ve stated if there are cameras it’s just likely to be 3 points and a fine.

The pole in the picture appears to be a street lamp though.

What you need to do for the safety of yourself and those around you in future is to focus on driving, looking for potential hazards, planning ahead etc
Easier said than done but try and not let yourself be distracted, concentrate on the job in hand.

Anyway hope this post is better than some of my more stereotypical compadres, best of luck and safe driving.
Oh and could you post a picky of yourself in a bikini please which is part of the T&C for all female members.

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You might get done, you might not, what is the point of worrying about it before hand?

Dipper, you aren’t getting a pic of me in a bikini :open_mouth:

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The T&C’s clearly state that anything over size 10 is exempt.

As professional drivers we see enough distressing images.

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eagerbeaver:
The T&C’s clearly state that anything over size 10 is exempt.

As professional drivers we see enough distressing images.

Phew! I was going to have to resign membership. :laughing:

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PMSL!!!

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I’m size 6 and 5ft2 … Haven’t got bikini pic tho

I’m sorry if my posts bothered the professional drivers

I can be a nervous driver which I know can’t be good but the fact that I actually value that drivers licence for my children ( and disabled father ) I do try my best to be law abiding at all times

On this occasion I made a big mistake :frowning: wasn’t deliberately and I have no direct excuse for it

With NIP etc all the prosecutors see is the image taken at the time of the offence - I wish there was a way of being able to express an apology and explain face to face what happened … Otherwise everyone’s labelled as wrecklessn and categorised in the same way as those who do intentionally abuse the road
To some extent I wish the police had stopped me

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albion:
You might get done, you might not, what is the point of worrying about it before hand?

Dipper, you aren’t getting a pic of me in a bikini :open_mouth:

Because i had hoped to keep a clean licence for as long as I had it