19 April 2006

Stop!

When did stop stop meaning stop? What the hell is Womble on about now?, I hear you ask.

At every set of traffic lights, there is a stop line. It's a big thick white line, done in reflective paint too, so you can see it better in the dark. In case you don't know, here's what the Highway Code says:

151: You MUST stop behind the white 'Stop' line across your side of the road unless the light is green. If the amber light appears you may go on only if you have already crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to stop might cause an accident.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 36

152: You MUST NOT move forward over the white line when the red light is showing. Only go forward when the traffic lights are green if there is room for you to clear the junction safely or you are taking up a position to turn right. If the traffic lights are not working, proceed with caution. Allow cyclists and buses time and space to move off when the green signal shows.
Laws RTA 1988 sect 36 & TSRGD regs 10 & 36

This means that you have to stop at the white line, not stop three feet over it, or continue crawling until the lights change. It means STOP! FFS! What is so bloody difficult about that? I can understand it if you had to stop in a hurry, but if the light is already on red when you approach it, there's no excuses other than stupidity and incompentence.

As for taxi drivers, yes, the law applies to you too! Just because there's nothing coming the other way, it doesn't mean you can ignore the red light. I want to install a device which pops up sharp spikes about 2 seconds after the light goes red. Then, if you cross the line, you get an instant fine - the price of new tyres. That'll stop the bastards.

3 comments:

Cooldrums said...

So as to yer point "what the hell is womble on about" I take it someone has driven out in front of you the Womble.

Oz said...

Sadly, people have been ignoring solid white lines of all sorts for years. Soon, however, all cars and bikes will be fitted with GPS conrolled devices that not only control speed, but also make you stop at a stop line (and snatch your mobile phone out of your hand and throw it out the window under a passing bus).

Womble said...

No, Cooldrums, I didn't get pulled out on, I just get pissed off when people are either incompetent or inconsiderate drivers.