Queensland Run an Amber Light $330+3 Demerit Points. WTF!!!!!

[ebzery]

p.s i have had a truck ride my bupper after a little sports car stopped suddenly infront of me at the lights (80km zone).
stopped about 1/2 meter off the car, the old truck road me all the way!

[Angeldust]

i used to stop on ambers all the time (within reason) until i got rear ended.
I always check my mirrors to see how much brake i should apply, and in this case i had ~ 3 car lengths on the car behind me. I still got hit.

Also, it can be difficult to judge when a light is a 'stale green' as some intersection have variable length lights depending on time of day etc.
Not only that, being stuck behind a SUV/4wd is enough to stuff up your vision of whats happening ahead. And as has been mentioned, incerasing the gap between you and the other car just allows for some idiot to take that spot.

I feel like buying a $1K shiztbox and smashing my brakes on at all ambers all the time now for lols. Easy way to get that insurance write off on that olde worthless car.. (Buy a $500 car, insure for $2K and bobs your uncle lol)

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by tweeked

So so wrong.

The couple of seconds between your light changing to red and the crossroad going green is needed for the turning traffic to clear the intersection before the green hits.

Have you not thought about traffic travelling from the right and left that are not stationary, but are travelling and anticipating their coming green light. With your scenario people waiting to turn for all of the arrogant "i can just squeeze an amber out of this" are sitting ducks with traffic bearing down on them at the speed limit.

If you have a truck up your clacker, or cannot stop safely for any other reason, you dont stop.

If you can safely stop - you do.

Then those waiting to turn can easily and safely.


It is really very easy. I am amazed that people dont get it.

People anticipating a green ...wtf ...are they psychic,I see red I slow and stop ? I see people stuck in intersection I let them finish what they are doing, my view only is yellow is warning for red , got time stop got no time or ability keep on moving .....seriously you know someone who anticipates green ?

And to that point someone adding a couple ks to get through knowing they have more chance than stopping also must be safer ...? Or is my logic wrong ...do tell

[falconnut]

Sigh glad i read this before i went on another road trip.

Argh QLD your just quality retarded.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by csv8

"We've had a multiple fatality crash on the M1 at Coomera recently, and something as significant as that has still not slowed the motoring public down, and we are still recording phenomenally high speeds on the motorway," she said.

5 People died on the M1 at Coomera when a stationary car (pulled onto the shoulder) was rear ended by another car. Nobody was speeding or drunk. Probably just inattentive from doing such a slow speed for the number of lanes and the size of the road.

It was even more amazing to watch friends and relatives of the victims pull over and stand in the same spot.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by Angeldust

i used to stop on ambers all the time (within reason) until i got rear ended.
I always check my mirrors to see how much brake i should apply, and in this case i had ~ 3 car lengths on the car behind me. I still got hit.

Also, it can be difficult to judge when a light is a 'stale green' as some intersection have variable length lights depending on time of day etc.
Not only that, being stuck behind a SUV/4wd is enough to stuff up your vision of whats happening ahead. And as has been mentioned, incerasing the gap between you and the other car just allows for some idiot to take that spot.

I feel like buying a $1K shiztbox and smashing my brakes on at all ambers all the time now for lols. Easy way to get that insurance write off on that olde worthless car.. (Buy a $500 car, insure for $2K and bobs your uncle lol)

Until something bigger than you squashes you like a tin can.

[ozpacman]

God I get a good laugh from some of you blokes.

"Doom doom, oh dear the sky is falling!!"

I've been a copper for 24 years and as far as I can recall this law was in when I started in 1989. Suddenly we're all going to be caught up in a massive rise in traffic crashes at traffic light controlled intersections. Goodness you'll be lucky if you just get crashed into at least once a day!

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan in accents most forlorn!"

If the stuff was still available I'd recommend that some of you took a Vincents and had nice lie down.

Nothing has changed ladies and gentlemen. The particular piece of legislation was simply highlighted in the media to try and get people to think about it.

Have a great New Year and please drive safely,

Russ

[Buntz]

Get rid of Amber. Make the light turn Red and people will stop.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

I had a cabbie the other night slow to a near stop at a green light because he saw a car at the other side of the intersection and he was waiting for it to turn red... I nearly went up the back of him.

If I have sufficient time to stop then I stop, if I know I can make the lights because they changed a millisecond before what would be a 'safe' stopping distance I don't stop or if I have a semi on my bumper then you're brain dead if you think I'm stopping.

HOWEVER, as QLD Police have the final say and their judgement is better than mine, if it was a revenue raising scheme tonight's total would be:
Me: $990 (3 amber)
Other motorists: $1650 (mostly amber and 1 as it turned red)
Police: $330

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by flappist

Just checked with a mate who is a solicitor and does a lot of traffic.

All wrong.

Law degrees come from universities not corn flakes packets, internet forums or google.

You can cross on an amber light provided the subsections are complied with. The line just denotes the boundry of the intersection if that point is not level with the lights.

I got such a headache reading all the responses on this forum, how did such a simple straight forward rule befuddle so many people?

Common sense tell us to avoid crashes by watching out when approaching intersections with stale greens and vehicles up our backsides...

Amber lights are set at 4 and 5 seconds for a good reason, to allow vehicles to clear intersections with out panic stops.

Maybe a good new year's resolution would be for drivers to use their brains..

[SIMBAD]

I've been done by an unmarked cop car tailgating me one night at about 11pm in Wagga Wagga about 2 years ago. Light turned amber when I was about 30 odd Mtrs away travelling 60kmh. I didn't think it was necessary to jump on the brakes when I had some douche commodore driver up my ****.. And yes i felt hard done by. $330 and 3 points. The missus was proud that I didn't blow up in the coppers face. I was fuming!
Edit: forgot to mention that the copper lectured me and said it was unsafe, yet the cop was still able to follow me through and pull me up once we passed the intersection..

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

God I get a good laugh from some of you blokes.

"Doom doom, oh dear the sky is falling!!"

I've been a copper for 24 years and as far as I can recall this law was in when I started in 1989. Suddenly we're all going to be caught up in a massive rise in traffic crashes at traffic light controlled intersections. Goodness you'll be lucky if you just get crashed into at least once a day!

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan in accents most forlorn!"

If the stuff was still available I'd recommend that some of you took a Vincents and had nice lie down.

Nothing has changed ladies and gentlemen. The particular piece of legislation was simply highlighted in the media to try and get people to think about it.

Have a great New Year and please drive safely,

Russ

Fair call on that ..... but its the paranoia, the constant bombardment, the constant upping of fines with no apparent deterrent, the washiness off some of the laws ..... the 'hoon' laws (Still waiting to find out what a hoon is ..... on the news tonight they fined a "Hoon" on a jetski for getting to close to dolphins in the bay. Is everyone now a hoon?) and with statements like this, "Stop on amber or get fined" it just makes more people weary, and in my eyes, NOT drive safely but drive hoping not to get a hefty fine and demerits removed. THAT is the problem. It is NOT about driving to conditions, safely, alert, better!!! Its all about avoiding the possibility of a fine which is NOT making for better drivers. Catching those driving safely in a 70 speed zone doing 73 is not necessarily helping. To drive safely between 60 odd to 70 odd is actually very very possible. Catching those with police presents doing stupid things on the roads will help a hell of a lot more.

BUT unfortunately ...... when you have tin cans driven at ANY speed by numbnuts .... and there are plenty out there ..... when they stop suddenly because of an unmovable object in their path .... people will get hurt. Minimalise casualties of course by removing stupid people but there are just too many of them

Bit like the lady at the red light camera the just 2 days ago on Canterbury Road. Stopped on a threepence when the light went amber ...... I manged to stop quickly (anticipated) but then braced myself for the impact of the van behind me who didn't see her brake first .... and the car behind that one. No one hit but lost a few heart beats!!!! That's not safe ...... but drumming these things into everyone's heads is causing very very bad inattentive driving ...... and just constantly staggers me the extent it is getting.

Please ....... it is not a thing towards the police but it is all coming from the top. It is big business now and money does need to be made to keep things in motion .... apparently

[XD 351 Ute]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

God I get a good laugh from some of you blokes.

"Doom doom, oh dear the sky is falling!!"

I've been a copper for 24 years and as far as I can recall this law was in when I started in 1989. Suddenly we're all going to be caught up in a massive rise in traffic crashes at traffic light controlled intersections. Goodness you'll be lucky if you just get crashed into at least once a day!

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan in accents most forlorn!"

If the stuff was still available I'd recommend that some of you took a Vincents and had nice lie down.

Nothing has changed ladies and gentlemen. The particular piece of legislation was simply highlighted in the media to try and get people to think about it.

Have a great New Year and please drive safely,

Russ

Hello Russ, you are most certainly correct, the rule has been around for ages.
The big issue, and in my opinion the reason why it WILL create more mayhem, is purely and simply dollar related.
Now that the infringement has a rather large dollar figure (and demerit points) attached, you will very likely find an increase in rear ender crashes at traffic lights.

Ed

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I got such a headache reading all the responses on this forum, how did such a simple straight forward rule befuddle so many people?

Common sense tell us to avoid crashes by watching out when approaching intersections with stale greens and vehicles up our backsides...

Amber lights are set at 4 and 5 seconds for a good reason, to allow vehicles to clear intersections with out panic stops.

Maybe a good new year's resolution would be for drivers to use their brains..

But that's the problem...yes, the yellow has a longish delay to "allow people to clear the intersection"...but start a campaign telling people they'll be fined if they run a yellow, and a big percentage of people won't run the yellow anymore, and the moment a yellow appears they will jam on the brakes to avoid a potential fine.

[ozpacman]

Originally Posted by XD 351 Ute

Hello Russ, you are most certainly correct, the rule has been around for ages.
The big issue, and in my opinion the reason why it WILL create more mayhem, is purely and simply dollar related.
Now that the infringement has a rather large dollar figure (and demerit points) attached, you will very likely find an increase in rear ender crashes at traffic lights.

Ed

Hi Ed. For as long as I can recall, the offence of failing to stop for an amber light (when safe to do so) has always carried the same penalty, both monetary and demerit point wise, as failing to stop for a red traffic control light.

As I say, nothing's changed. It's simply that someone has highlighted it in the media.

Cheers mate,

Russ

[XBROO]

It's not like the media to cause up a stir. Russ is right, but because it has been highlighted, then people run with it as they will. So everyone just pretend you're riding a bike, to keep your attention level up.

[XD 351 Ute]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

Hi Ed. For as long as I can recall, the offence of failing to stop for an amber light (when safe to do so) has always carried the same penalty, both monetary and demerit point wise, as failing to stop for a red traffic control light.

As I say, nothing's changed. It's simply that someone has highlighted it in the media.

Cheers mate,

Russ

Hi Russ, fair enough, I suppose I'd never realised about the money side of it as I've not been in the situation to find out... yet, touch wood!

Ed

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by ozpacman

Hi Ed. For as long as I can recall, the offence of failing to stop for an amber light (when safe to do so) has always carried the same penalty, both monetary and demerit point wise, as failing to stop for a red traffic control light.

As I say, nothing's changed. It's simply that someone has highlighted it in the media.

Cheers mate,

Russ

And that is also my point. Law has been around for a while but highlight it in the media and the paranoia takes over. Not common sense. It is all about driving to avoid a fine ..... It is not about driving safely. That is a massive problem, don't know the answer but while money is to be made at scaringly frightening rate from those trying to do the right things and drive safer, attentive and properly. There has to be a degree of common sense taken to make things safer, but unfortunately there isn't.

To be behind someone who brakes to avoid a fine using their ABS to stop is not fun and see it happen at red light camera lights constantly.

[Agent86]

As a soiciety, we need to step back from laws being rigid barriers ( in most, but not all instinces ).

We need to teach people how to operate with guidelines, not rails.
This will begin to slowly ( and i do understand how slowly) reignite the flame of common sence.

When you tell a person how to do something, they know only how to follow orders.
Teach somone to work it out, and they can operate even in the absence of guidelines.

The issue is, with the ever increasing focus on laws lesser enforced in the past, the sheep will only panic and worry about an imminent threat of a financial penalty. ( never mind that its not a NEW threat, just a newly publicised one ).

The entire path we as country allowed out governments to embark upon, has reached a point where it either needs to be stopped and adjusted to better achieve public saftey and so on, or it will continue on an ever increasingly draconian spiral.

Yes i know that reads doom n gloom, but the fact is, the amount of gov intervention in life is rapidly increasing.

We need a guiding hand, not a punch in the face when we 'step out of our rigidly defined narrow line'.

I would prefer to see police presence targeting erratic drivers, distracted drivers and so on, than worry about the petty things.
Very rarely has a speeder caused me grief, but Daily i am plagued with drivers that are incompetant and nothing short of the accident waiting to happen.

[2011G6E]

As the old saying goes: "Handbooks breed habits".

Give someone rigidly defined guidelines with absolutely no leeway, and when something goes the littlest bit off the scale, they have literally no idea how to handle the situation...

[Kable72]

It's a conspiracy maaan, they're trying to control us maaaan.

In all seriousness though, they need to stop holding everyones hand.

[In Focus]

I guess the next campaign will be to encourage people not to follow each other so closely so they don't rear-end people stopping for amber lights...

[BENT_8]

Highlighting guidelines is not intended to create hysteria or paranoia, but to get people taking responsibility for their behaviour.

As i said before, the modern motorist has become so blazee that they barely pay the action of driving a vehicle a moments thought.
If you study the half a dozen cars around you on a dual lane road you will see a all kinds of behaviour which takes precedence over concentration and any one of them could result in an incident.

The term 'accident' is used far too losely when describing many collisions, it is not an accident to run up someone's **** if your texting, or thinking about what to cook for dinner.
That is usually brought about due to inattention, which is a human error.

Someone said there will be an increase in rear enders as a result of this, i say that is a real possibility, however, does the blame lie with the rule, the driver making a sudden stop, or the following driver who failed to leave enough braking distance should the vehicle infront suddenly stop regardless of the reason.
If joe bloggs brakes hard to avoid a kid on the road and you run up his ****, is it the kids fault, Joe's fault, or yours for being too close to stop...

[xxx000]

everyone needs to stop worrying what the media, social or otherwise, says

as said these rules and fines have been in place for years, I seriously doubt anyone needs to panic over them simply being reinforced

[Werd.]

Ban foglights.

[Olbucko]

If you were charged with running an amber light and the matter went to court it could be very difficult to prove that you could not stop safely, the police don't sit at an intersection with a tape measure and a stop watch, there would be no picture as the light was still amber. Having a dashcam would help.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

But that's the problem...yes, the yellow has a longish delay to "allow people to clear the intersection"...but start a campaign telling people they'll be fined if they run a yellow, and a big percentage of people won't run the yellow anymore, and the moment a yellow appears they will jam on the brakes to avoid a potential fine.

Exactly, the law has worked fine for years, it just needs the coppers to mange it properly
I wonder what's caused this issue, perhaps the real reason is that yellow is more like red,
by that I mean perhaps some drivers are technically running a red light, more than yellow.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Highlighting guidelines is not intended to create hysteria or paranoia, but to get people taking responsibility for their behaviour.

As i said before, the modern motorist has become so blazee that they barely pay the action of driving a vehicle a moments thought.
If you study the half a dozen cars around you on a dual lane road you will see a all kinds of behaviour which takes precedence over concentration and any one of them could result in an incident.

The term 'accident' is used far too losely when describing many collisions, it is not an accident to run up someone's **** if your texting, or thinking about what to cook for dinner.
That is usually brought about due to inattention, which is a human error.

Someone said there will be an increase in rear enders as a result of this, i say that is a real possibility, however, does the blame lie with the rule, the driver making a sudden stop, or the following driver who failed to leave enough braking distance should the vehicle infront suddenly stop regardless of the reason.
If joe bloggs brakes hard to avoid a kid on the road and you run up his ****, is it the kids fault, Joe's fault, or yours for being too close to stop...

Kids don't just materialize on the road like a Tardis. You see objects like animals and children moving on or near the side of the road and prepare to take action. This is termed defensive driving.

It is probably also the parents fault for letting their kids near the road unsupervised in the first place.

Many people constantly feather the brake pedal in this day and age, (or drive with one foot on the brake in autos) that you are never exactly sure why some people are braking. Therefore if you don't see a reason as to why they are braking you often don't brake very hard yourself. 99 times out of 100 you can lift off slightly and achieve the same result.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Olbucko

If you were charged with running an amber light and the matter went to court it could be very difficult to prove that you could not stop safely, the police don't sit at an intersection with a tape measure and a stop watch, there would be no picture as the light was still amber. Having a dashcam would help.

You do not have to PROVE you could not stop safely, you just have to THINK you could not stop safely.
Driving is about judgement and the person who charged you has no idea about the weight of your vehicle, state of your tyres on the road, types of braking you have and about a squillion other factors.
e.g.

Two FG2 Falcon sedans:

1) F6E with driver only, full brembos and sticky tyres such as Advans or P-Zeros
2) XT fitted with after market F6E body kit with 5 adults, 400kg in the boot, standard brakes and bob jane all rounders.

Both doing 60km/h.

Light goes amber 35m before the line.

Can both of these "identical" cars stop safely in that distance?

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by flappist

You do not have to PROVE you could not stop safely, you just have to THINK you could not stop safely.
Driving is about judgement and the person who charged you has no idea about the weight of your vehicle, state of your tyres on the road, types of braking you have and about a squillion other factors.
e.g.

Two FG2 Falcon sedans:

1) F6E with driver only, full brembos and sticky tyres such as Advans or P-Zeros
2) XT fitted with after market F6E body kit with 5 adults, 400kg in the boot, standard brakes and bob jane all rounders.

Both doing 60km/h.

Light goes amber 35m before the line.

Can both of these "identical" cars stop safely in that distance?

^^^^^^^^^^ Listen to him, this is a safety issue.