How To Find Out If A Red Light Camera Caught You

Traffic light cameras at decorated junctions play a vital role in keeping our roads safe. But if you've accidentally run a scarlet light, it may not be articulate whether or non y'all've been caught.

Here we'll embrace what you need to know – from what triggers the cameras, to what to do if you think y'all've been snapped.

How traffic lite cameras work

Traffic light (or 'ruby lite') cameras observe vehicles which pass through lights subsequently they've turned red past using sensors or ground loops in the road.

When traffic lights are on red, the organisation becomes active and the photographic camera is ready to photograph any car that passes over the trigger.

Information technology'due south an offence for any part of your vehicle to pass the white end line if a traffic lite has turned cerise.

The vast majority of red calorie-free cameras in the Great britain are made by Gatsometer.

These Gatso RLC 36 units also take congenital-in radar technology, with dual speed and red light functions, then for the sake of safe and the police force, avoid the temptation to put your human foot down when they commencement to change.

Why practice we need traffic low-cal cameras?

All traffic cameras are at that place for our safety. They're typically installed in high-take a chance areas, perhaps where someone has previously been injured or an accident has occurred afterwards a ruby low-cal was run.

At decorated junctions and crossings yous'll often as well run across smaller cameras on elevation of the lights themselves. These are there to assistance monitor traffic and congestion on roads, merely do not flash for driving offences.

How volition y'all know if you've been caught?

There'due south no guarantee y'all'll know y'all've been caught immediately, unless the camera unmistakably flashes.

But traffic low-cal cameras don't ever flash similar Gatsometer'southward more common xanthous box speed cameras, so information technology tin can be tricky to judge if you made information technology through in time.

While Gatsometer cameras will produce a distinctive flash whenever taking a photo, newer versions of the Trevulo-D speed cameras – which can also double up as cerise light cameras – apply an infra-cherry flash which isn't visible to the commuter.

If your car is captured by either, you lot'll receive a Observe of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days, in one case the photograph has been reviewed.

What happens if you've been caught by a traffic lite photographic camera?

The NIP volition ask the registered owner to name the offending driver, complete each section and return it inside 28 days.

In almost cases, the notice volition ask for an admission of guilt and guild the payment of a fixed penalty fine in place of taking the instance to court.

Y'all'll also have the right to entreatment a penalty notice if y'all feel you had mitigating circumstances for running a red calorie-free.

Motorway cameras - which ones can catch you lot out?
Speed cameras – what y'all need to know
What are the main driving offences and their punishments?

What defences can I use?

In all likelihood, very few. As a 'strict liability' offence, you won't get away with but insisting you 'didn't intend' to run the light, if photographic show proves you did.

The simply circumstances which may offer a defense force include:

Proving you did not get through the red light
Proving there was a defect with the low-cal or related signage

Further, special reasons may also be considered past a courtroom and lead to a re-assessment of your penalization.

Even so, it is unlikely you will be let off for allowing an emergency vehicle to pass.

The cost of running a red lite

Bated from the most important cost – the safety of you and other road users – if caught, you'll be required to pay a fine.

The current penalty for failing to stop for a cherry light is usually an £100 fine and 3 points on your licence. The points volition stay on tape for four years.

If you fail to sign or respond to a NIP, or provide the details of the correct offending driver if disputed, y'all could face prosecution, six penalty points and a maximum fine of £k.

Most constabularies too offering educational courses to motorists who are defenseless running a red light.