tim (back at home) wrote:
"Brian Widdas" wrote in message
...
In article , Nick Finnigan wrote:
Ian wrote:
"Nick Finnigan" wrote in message


You are driving (a motor vehicle) at a safe and legal speed,
with no other vehicles moving in your direction for 200 yards,
approaching some (green) traffic lights which have these two
stop lines in front of them. Then the lights change to amber;
you move your foot to cover the brake pedal, and realize that
you can not (physically, and so safely) stop before reaching
the first stop line. You can, however, stop safely before
passing the second stop line. You can also get past the second
stop line before the lights change to red (based on experience).

What legal options do you have? Which is the best one?


Legally you should stop at the second stop line. That is what it
says in TSRGD2002 Section 5 paragraph 43 (b).

What makes it not legal to drive past the second stop line on
amber?

TSRGD2002 36(1)(e)

"the amber signal shall, when shown alone, convey the same
prohibition as the red signal, except that, as respects any
vehicle which is so close to the stop line that it cannot safely
be stopped without proceeding beyond the stop line, it shall
convey the same indication as the green signal or green arrow
signal which was shown immediately before it;" For a car, TSGRD2002
43(2)(b) defines "stop line" as being the
first stop line, or, if you've passed it, the second stop line.
So, if you can's stop safely before the first line, but you can
stop safely before the second, that is what you must do.

And according to the originator of this thread you
will get a ticket for doing this.

So surely the rule is, if you can't stop in time
for the first then you can also legally cross the
second.

No! Why would you deduce the rule from what the originator of this
thread wrote (sorry, John, nothing personal!) rather than the actual
regulations?

Here's what Highway Code Rule 154 has to say on the subject:

"Some junctions have advanced stop lines or bus advance areas to allow
cycles and buses to be positioned ahead of other traffic. Motorists,
including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached, and
should avoid encroaching on the marked area. If your vehicle has
proceeded over the first white line at the time the signal goes red, you
MUST stop at the second white line, even if your vehicle is in the
marked area."

By the way, are there any of those "bus advance areas" in London?

--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)