Went through an amber light in front of a Garda car

GunnerBlue

Hi guys,

Just a quick query because I’m a goody two shoes who’s now panicking about being in trouble with the Gardai!

I was driving home today and as I was approaching a traffic light it turned to Amber. According to my speedometer I was going about 48 Km/hr and I would say I was about 5 metres from the light when it changed. I made the split second decision to keep going because I felt I would have had to hit the brakes hard to stop before the line, with a car right behind me as well. The lights went red as I was almost across the junction. This might well have been the wrong decision but it’s the one I made in the moment.

Across the junction was a Garda car. After I passed through I saw them in my mirror coming up behind me. They didn’t seem to be chasing me or anything, they just went when their light went green. I indicated into my housing estate and they came with me, but when I turned into my street they kept going, so maybe they were just going that way.

Anyway, my question is, can anything come of this? Or would they have had to stop me? I have a dash cam so I could show it was Amber rather than red but I guess they could say I should have stopped, and they might well be right.

Lovelyguy

You'll 100% be fine.

Ultimate Seduction

GunnerBlue wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just a quick query because I’m a goody two shoes who’s now panicking about being in trouble with the Gardai!

I was driving home today and as I was approaching a traffic light it turned to Amber. According to my speedometer I was going about 48 Km/hr and I would say I was about 5 metres from the light when it changed. I made the split second decision to keep going because I felt I would have had to hit the brakes hard to stop before the line, with a car right behind me as well. The lights went red as I was almost across the junction. This might well have been the wrong decision but it’s the one I made in the moment.

Across the junction was a Garda car. After I passed through I saw them in my mirror coming up behind me. They didn’t seem to be chasing me or anything, they just went when their light went green. I indicated into my housing estate and they came with me, but when I turned into my street they kept going, so maybe they were just going that way.

Anyway, my question is, can anything come of this? Or would they have had to stop me? I have a dash cam so I could show it was Amber rather than red but I guess they could say I should have stopped, and they might well be right.

They would have pulled you if they had an issue.

Tell me how

GunnerBlue wrote:

Anyway, my question is, can anything come of this? Or would they have had to stop me? I have a dash cam so I could show it was Amber rather than red but I guess they could say I should have stopped, and they might well be right.

Relax. They'd most likely have stopped you to speak to you there and then.

Tigger

GunnerBlue wrote: »

Hi guys,

Just a quick query because I’m a goody two shoes who’s now panicking about being in trouble with the Gardai!

I was driving home today and as I was approaching a traffic light it turned to Amber. According to my speedometer I was going about 48 Km/hr and I would say I was about 5 metres from the light when it changed. I made the split second decision to keep going because I felt I would have had to hit the brakes hard to stop before the line, with a car right behind me as well. The lights went red as I was almost across the junction. This might well have been the wrong decision but it’s the one I made in the moment.

Across the junction was a Garda car. After I passed through I saw them in my mirror coming up behind me. They didn’t seem to be chasing me or anything, they just went when their light went green. I indicated into my housing estate and they came with me, but when I turned into my street they kept going, so maybe they were just going that way.

Anyway, my question is, can anything come of this? Or would they have had to stop me? I have a dash cam so I could show it was Amber rather than red but I guess they could say I should have stopped, and they might well be right.

They ran you’re plate and it came up taxed and insured with the owner being a goodie two shoes so they left you alone

Mint Sauce

Tigger wrote: »

They ran you’re plate and it came up taxed and insured with the owner being a goodie two shoes so they left you alone

Somethng along these lines. If they had issue, they would have more than likely pulled you over. Wouldn't sweat it too much.

GunnerBlue

Lovelyguy wrote: »

You'll 100% be fine.

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

They would have pulled you if they had an issue.

Tell me how wrote: »

Relax. They'd most likely have stopped you to speak to you there and then.

Tigger wrote: »

They ran you’re plate and it came up taxed and insured with the owner being a goodie two shoes so they left you alone

Thanks lads. I’m a 35 year old teachers pet

johnnyryan89

I'd agree with Ultimate Seduction. Same thing happened to me a few years ago when in Dublin for a match and guards at the time pulled me over.

frozenfrozen

That's what Amber is for, so you don't have to dangerously slam on and cause a crash

Helium

An amber light means that you must not go beyond the stop line or, if there is no stop line, beyond the light.
However, you may go on if you are so close to the line or the light when the amber light first appears that stopping would be dangerous.

mickdw

The light controls entry into junction. Leaving the junction on red is not an issue.
Now if you had ample opportunity to stop on amber, well you should have but you certainly shouldn't slam on brakes I order to be able to stop on amber.

twin_beacon

GunnerBlue wrote: »

According to my speedometer I was going about 48 Km/hr and I would say I was about 5 metres from the light when it changed.

You did the right thing.

beefburrito

Be assured, They'ed turn on the blue light's and siren and have you pulled in if you did anything wrong.

Enjoy your day and don't be worrying or put yourself through any unwanted anxiety or pressure.

Wildcard7

GunnerBlue wrote: »

According to my speedometer I was going about 48 Km/hr and I would say I was about 5 metres from the light when it changed. I made the split second decision to keep going because I felt I would have had to hit the brakes hard to stop before the line, with a car right behind me as well. The lights went red as I was almost across the junction.

48km/h = 13.3m/s
So it took you 0.376 seconds to get from the 5 metres before the light to driving past the light (since you saw the light change to red). That's how long the amber light was on.

Either the amber phase is wayyyyy too short, or your 5m are bullsh1t.

In any case, you're grand.

khaldrogo

I did this same thing last year. I thought I got away with it too, then one night I had a team of navy seals breach my downstairs toilet door as I was mid squeeze. Its lucky I was sitting where I was sitting let me tell you.

I digress. I was frogmarched from my home, bags around my ankles and a roll of jacks roll hanging from my are. I was in front of the judge the next morning and sentenced to 76 years.

I got off on appeal as it turned out they had my name spelled wrong on the warrant.

True story.

GunnerBlue

Wildcard7 wrote: »

48km/h = 13.3m/s
So it took you 0.376 seconds to get from the 5 metres before the light to driving past the light (since you saw the light change to red). That's how long the amber light was on.

Either the amber phase is wayyyyy too short, or your 5m are bullsh1t.

In any case, you're grand.

It’s a large junction and I saw the light on the other side of the junction go red as I was going through, not the light I passed. Either way, 5m was my estimate, it might well have been longer than that in reality. Whatever the distance I felt the right thing was to keep going.

Khaldrogo I’m too pretty to go to jail

I feel much better lads, I’m an anxious person so the replies helped an awful lot. Thanks a million.

Tell me how

Just remembered, very similar happened me years ago in Sligo town.

Guardai turned in to my lane behind me and I was now stopped at next lights. Garda got out and came up to the window.

Gardai: What's the story with breaking the light.
Me: There was a car very close behind me, I thought if I stopped, they'd run in to me.
Gardai: Good answer. Not sure I believe it. Be more careful. You're still stuck in traffic. (Garda returns to his car)
Me: Phew!

Cee-Jay-Cee

Amber light means you stop IF it is safe to do so as well as start moving again of safe to do so. You were at the light when it changed, you were not in a safe position to stop. Your in the clear.

mickdw

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Amber light means you stop IF it is safe to do so as well as start moving again of safe to do so. You were at the light when it changed, you were not in a safe position to stop. Your in the clear.

Amber before green? Is the Op not talking about Ireland?

Dravokivich

mickdw wrote: »

Amber before green? Is the Op not talking about Ireland?

Pedestrian lights have flashing amber prior to green.

mickdw

A pedestrian crossing a junction is not the subject of the thread.

Dravokivich

mickdw wrote: »

A pedestrian crossing a junction is not the subject of the thread.

You asked about light sequence, I answered about light sequence.

Cee-Jay-Cee

mickdw wrote: »

A pedestrian crossing a junction is not the subject of the thread.

Shut up :rolleyes:

appledrop

If they had a problem they would have pulled you in. I hate going through the amber myself but sometimes you just have to depending on the junction. Slamming on brakes could be more dangerous + cause a crash.

the_syco

GunnerBlue wrote: »

I made the split second decision to keep going because I felt I would have had to hit the brakes hard to stop before the line, with a car right behind me as well. The lights went red as I was almost across the junction. This might well have been the wrong decision but it’s the one I made in the moment.

Across the junction was a Garda car. After I passed through I saw them in my mirror coming up behind me. They didn’t seem to be chasing me or anything, they just went when their light went green. I indicated into my housing estate and they came with me, but when I turned into my street they kept going, so maybe they were just going that way.

They were checking where you lived. If you had parked near a drug dealers house after nearly breaking a red, I'd say the Gardai would have pulled you over.