It Wasn’t Safe To Stop

Question:

DRIVING OUT OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA I HAVE TO TURN RIGHT OUT OF THE CAR PARK ACROSS A BUSY A ROAD WHICH IS ON A BLIND BEND.

IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC I FIND THAT USUALLY CARS WILL NOT GIVE WAY WHICH MEANS EITHER EDGING OUT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE RIGHT OR ACCELERATING TO AVOID TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE LEFT HAND SIDE FROM THE BLIND BEND.

THIS MORNING I ACCELERATED FROM A STANDING START. TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE SITED APPROX 50 YARDS FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE RESIDENTIAL CAR PARK.

THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS WERE ON GREEN. TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY HARSH BREAKING I WENT THROUGH THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON AMBER. AN OFFICER STATED THIS WAS ON RED AND HAS ISSUED A FIXED PENALTY FOR FAILING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT.

IT IS A CASE OF MY WORD AGAINST THE OFFICER’S

IS THIS WORTH APPEALING AGAINST?

Graham Says:

It’s an offence to go through on amber but you can defend it if you can show that it wasn’t safe to stop.

If the officer convinces the court that the lights were red then you wont be able to defend the allegation on that basis.

It’s a gamble taking it to court but you only have to cast a doubt to win.