Was i being too harsh?

[silverfoxcc]

On another forum, a car driver was asking about what would happen as he had been done by the BTP for going past a LC crossing 2 secs after the red light started. His excuse was he didnt see it ,or something similar

I just pointed out that he was lucky to get an NIP as they dont normally prosecute dead people, and as the ambers are going for at least 5 secs before the red he should have stopped on them, as the Highway code says so.

One of the guys on there took exception on the comments. Havent replied ,but these drivers really get me fuming, For the sake of being stopped for a few minutes, they put a lot of people at risk and create a lot of grief for families involved and the guys who have to tidy up the mess they create

IF anyone thinks i went OTT then i will stick up an apology.But i wrote from the hip on it ( and i am not on the Railway) just an ordinary driver

 

[northwichcat]

I seem to recall for traffic lights the Highway Code says amber means stop unless you are so close that stopping may cause an accident. Is it the same for flashing ambers at level crossings and opening bridges?

Personally I think if you're going to mention risk of death then you need to be very careful how you word your response.

 

[tony_mac]

I just pointed out that he was lucky to get an NIP as they dont normally prosecute dead people, and as the ambers are going for at least 5 secs before the red he should have stopped on them, as the Highway code says so.

3 seconds.
Yes, you should stop on ambers if you can, but if he didn't see the red lights, then he surely didn't see the ambers either.
I wouldn't worry about it, I think it's a perfectly reasonable comment. Not all level crossings have barriers; habitually 'not seeing' red lights is, eventually, going to end up badly.

BTW, this doesn't apply if, as I suspect, it was in the 'active cases' part of pepipoo (it's fine in the 'flame pit' section). The purpose of the forum is to provide advice, and the rule is 'if you don't want to help, don't comment'. Posts on the morality of someones actions just clog up the threads and make it hard for people to get advice.

 

[baz962]

As a trainee train driver , I would think it would rile me. As a car driver of over 30 year's , ex cyclist , ex motorcycle rider , ex van driver , and ex lorry driver , I really can't stand people that put lives at risk while driving. Glad you had a go.

 

[Bromley boy]

On another forum, a car driver was asking about what would happen as he had been done by the BTP for going past a LC crossing 2 secs after the red light started. His excuse was he didnt see it ,or something similar

I just pointed out that he was lucky to get an NIP as they dont normally prosecute dead people, and as the ambers are going for at least 5 secs before the red he should have stopped on them, as the Highway code says so.

One of the guys on there took exception on the comments. Havent replied ,but these drivers really get me fuming, For the sake of being stopped for a few minutes, they put a lot of people at risk and create a lot of grief for families involved and the guys who have to tidy up the mess they create

IF anyone thinks i went OTT then i will stick up an apology.But i wrote from the hip on it ( and i am not on the Railway) just an ordinary driver

As a train driver and a motorist I can tell you you are bang on the money with that comment.

Was it PistonHeads by any chance? Lots of cocked-up w*nkers on there, I’m afraid. It’s a good forum generally but is frequented by quite a few strange man-children who believe the 15 year old hairdressers’ Porsche they drive compensates for what they lack in the trouser department.

 

[AlterEgo]

They must have been really mean to the OP for him to come to a guaranteed place of safety for a reassuring response!

 

[Bromley boy]

They must have been really mean to the OP for him to come to a guaranteed place of safety for a reassuring response!

Indeed.

If you want to see a real bloodbath of an Internet discussion forum, mumsnet is a good example (I don’t post myself but browse it quite a bit).

No holds barred on there, they are even allowed to swear at each other!

 

[alxndr]

I seem to recall for traffic lights the Highway Code says amber means stop unless you are so close that stopping may cause an accident. Is it the same for flashing ambers at level crossings and opening bridges?

Ambers at level crossings should be steady, the same as standard traffic light signals, but the Highway Code doesn't refer to them specifically, either in the level crossing section or the light signals section other than to say that you should "keep going if you have already crossed the white line when the amber light comes on."
You are, however, correct in that it does say that "you may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident".

The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 does make it very clear that the amber should be treated as a stop, unless there is insufficient time to stop:

The significance of the light signals prescribed by regulation 39 [level crossing signals] shall be as follows—

(a) the amber signal shall convey the prohibition that traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line or the road marking shown in diagram 1003.2, except that a vehicle which is so close to the stop line that it cannot safely be stopped without proceeding beyond the stop line may proceed across the level crossing; and

(b) the intermittent red signals shall convey the prohibition that traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line or the road marking shown in diagram 1003.2.

As for the original question, the only issue I see with the response is that amber lights can sometimes only be on for 3 seconds, not 5!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

You are not being too harsh.

I also note that you say it was someone else, not the driver himself, who took exception to the comments. Out of curiosity, has the discussion on the thread you refer to gone mainly one way or the other or has it been a pretty much 50/50 split?

 

[Tetchytyke]

If you want to see a real bloodbath of an Internet discussion forum, mumsnet is a good example (I don’t post myself but browse it quite a bit).

Ah, Mumsnet. Where that psychopath you try and avoid in the Waitrose cafe after playgroup comes out to play.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

You forgot the golden rule of the road: Motorists are NEVER in the wrong. The government is waging war on motorists and will prosecute the most minor of infractions to the full extent of the law.

 

[DanDaDriver]

As a train driver and a motorist I can tell you you are bang on the money with that comment.

Was it PistonHeads by any chance? Lots of cocked-up w*nkers on there, I’m afraid. It’s a good forum generally but is frequented by quite a few strange man-children who believe the 15 year old hairdressers’ Porsche they drive compensates for what they lack in the trouser department.

Very much the, “It’s fine to speed and use your phone if you’re a skilled driver like me, and have gloves,” crowd on PH.

 

[BluePenguin]

Personally you were definitely NOT being harsh at all in my opinion. Crossings flash their red lights for a few seconds before the gates go down for a reason. Five seconds is plenty of time to see the lights started flashing so there is no excuse. If they really had not seen the lights had started flashing then they must not have been looking where they are going and should possibly not be driving at all.

If people are stupid enough to chance it then that is their fault really. There is no stopping some people and even hearing the tragic tales of people getting killed isn't enough. However it is always better to be safe than sorry and the sounds of things in this case they were certainly not safe.

 

[silverfoxcc]

Tony

Yep it was pepipoo. I broke rule 8 !Trouble is that if i had put the comment in Flame pit, the OP wouldn't have seen it!
I am not the worlds best driver, but i do know what the rules of the road are. Also seeing some of the comments on here from drivers who have been involved in such incidents, and reading about and seeing videos of these applicants for the Darwin award. I come down on the side of the railways everytime.A fine is not enough 6 month minimum ban at least
To me these people come under the category of those that do not give way when joining a Mway or DC from a slip road. thinking that a RH indicator gives them the divine right to just pull out. Brain dead everyone of them.

 

[deltic1989]

To me these people come under the category of those that do not give way when joining a Mway or DC from a slip road. thinking that a RH indicator gives them the divine right to just pull out. Brain dead everyone of them.

Don't forget the morons that don't give way at roundabouts. That really is a pet peeve of mine.

Back OT. I don't think you were too harsh at all. I was taught that flashing reds were an absolute stop, under no circumstances can any vehicle pass them.
Emergency vehicles running on blue lights can treat red lights like "Give Way" signs, however even they must come to a stop at flashing reds.

 

[whhistle]

To me these people come under the category of those that do not give way when joining a Mway or DC from a slip road. thinking that a RH indicator gives them the divine right to just pull out. Brain dead everyone of them.

Or the people who do anything... and I mean anything to exit off the correct slip road:

or

 

[Neil Polo]

I used to get miffed when drivers would whizz over canal road bridges while I was still opening the barriers after closing the bridge. The lights are still red until my Waterways Key comes out of the control panel. Fortunately, most bridges in my area now have fully automatic barriers so the operator never has to go on to tne bridge at all.

 

[Cowley]

As a train driver and a motorist I can tell you you are bang on the money with that comment.

Was it PistonHeads by any chance? Lots of cocked-up w*nkers on there, I’m afraid. It’s a good forum generally but is frequented by quite a few strange man-children who believe the 15 year old hairdressers’ Porsche they drive compensates for what they lack in the trouser department.

Never forget these two rules:

A) All men are fantastic lovers.
B) All men are brilliant drivers.

I only ever admit to one of these, because I don’t want to become complacent and crash the van.

 

[Bromley boy]

Never forget these two rules:

A) All men are fantastic lovers.
B) All men are brilliant drivers.

I only ever admit to one of these, because I don’t want to become complacent and crash the van.

Indeed. I’d admit to being bad at both*, but truly dreadful at B.

Especially when it comes to trains.

*I’m proud to admit my masculinity is amply affirmed by my beard alone.

 

[GusB]

Indeed. I’d admit to being bad at both*, but truly dreadful at B.

Especially when it comes to trains.

*I’m proud to admit my masculinity is amply affirmed by my beard alone.

You are a truly dreadful train driver - you earn far too much for starters

 

[Bromley boy]

You are a truly dreadful train driver - you earn far too much for starters

I think I earn far too little. I also moan a great deal and am quite right wing. Actually, thinking about it, that means I’m an excellent train driver.

Just need to work on becoming old (getting there), fat and bald to complete the picture.

 

[GusB]

I think I earn far too little. I also moan a great deal and am quite right wing. Actually, thinking about it, that means I’m an excellent train driver.

Just need to work on becoming old (getting there), fat and bald to complete the picture.

I've managed to do the fat bit (how did that happen?). I'm not actively working on the bald thing.

Aaaanyway, to bring the thread vaguely back on topic, I was chatting with a regular visitor to my local tonight. He's a tramper and pops in for the odd pint or two before he beds down for the night. His biggest issues were people who don't know what speed they're allowed to drive on dual carriageways, and how others drove on motorways. I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of high-speed driving - I'd rather allow an extra hour or two and pootle along a single-carriageway road at 50. If someone is so desperate to get past me, I tend to let 'em go at the earliest opportunity. I'm not a brilliant driver, but I'd like to think I'm a fairly safe one. As for being a fantastic lover... I'm still single

 

[Bromley boy]

I've managed to do the fat bit (how did that happen?). I'm not actively working on the bald thing.

Aaaanyway, to bring the thread vaguely back on topic, I was chatting with a regular visitor to my local tonight. He's a tramper and pops in for the odd pint or two before he beds down for the night. His biggest issues were people who don't know what speed they're allowed to drive on dual carriageways, and how others drove on motorways. I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of high-speed driving - I'd rather allow an extra hour or two and pootle along a single-carriageway road at 50. If someone is so desperate to get past me, I tend to let 'em go at the earliest opportunity. I'm not a brilliant driver, but I'd like to think I'm a fairly safe one. As for being a fantastic lover... I'm still single

I tend to agree.

I have matured in my driving style. Lots of 20mph limits and road humps around where I live. Around town I’m slower than average, stick to the limit and slow to a walking pace for the more severe bumps. I get overtaken a lot by idiots who want to do 40 in a 20 - I don’t care (I’d rather they were in front than behind), and let them get on with it. If a child runs out I’d far rather not kill them.

On the other hand driving home on a three lane dual carriageway, after a late shift driving trains defensively, I will sometimes boot it and exceed the limit by quite some margin (my, quite old, car is designed to cruise on Autobhans at 150ish and doesn’t hang around, despite technically being over the age of consent ).

I fly as a hobby as well - the irony there is that you never want to let the speed drop too low as that can result in an aerodynamic stall (low airspeed, high angle of attack, the wings lose lift and you’ll drop out of the sky like a stone). That will kill you more quickly than anything, especially at low altitude.

I guess train driving and flying have both made me like to do things “by the numbers”, and I therefore tend to respect speed limits. In the car, late at night, with little traffic around, is the only time I let rip.

My pet motoring hate is middle lane hoggers.

 

[DanDaDriver]

I think I earn far too little. I also moan a great deal and am quite right wing. Actually, thinking about it, that means I’m an excellent train driver.

Just need to work on becoming old (getting there), fat and bald to complete the picture.

You must get to sit on the top table...

 

[silverfoxcc]

Gents

Thanks for the comments, and agreement.

I dont think even putting a comment in the 'free for all' section would make this bloke any better.

AND on his intial post he said he coulndn't remember

Dont forget

These people drive among us!!