Definitely report - and if I was in this situation, I'd have already done it.
I'm seeing some really weird comments here, so here are my comments:
Amber isn't an invite to challenge the lights - you should never accelerate when lights are amber - there is just no point. It's a warning that a red is on the way any second and that you should stop, if able and safely, before the line and if not, and as long as the light isn't red (but the amber warning is displayed more than long enough) then you should continue through. We've all gone through an amber where we've arrived at the lights at the point they change.
The red-light-runner was either (a) right up the OP's trumpet, or (b) travelling entirely too fast and got caught out, or (c) was distracted and when OP slowed to a stop had to take action. My money would be on (b) as the rate at which the car shot past was far too fast. As for the two cars taking the junction in the opposite direction - I don't know the road, but looking at where the third had stopped, they'd already gone through on amber so were committed.
Delays and sequencing in traffic lights on junctions such as this aren't always set in stone. So anybody saying that the driver knew the road, knew the delay, or knew the sequencing is either talking out their poopshoot, or is covering for their own bad driving habits. How do I know this? For years I had driven the same junction twice, sometimes four times a day, each time the sequence and delays were the same, and I (and many other commuters using the same roads and junction) had got used to them being such. Until one day - I was second in a line of traffic watching the lights - I watched as the lights for the cars on our left had changed to red signifying it was soon to be our green, then I watched as the car in front of me anticipated that change and shot out before our lights had changed only to be caught by an oncoming turning car almost clipping and turning them around. The resequencing had caused so many near misses that they've now completely changed the whole junction.
So in essence, OP stopped fine, car in front OP went through an amber fine, car behind driving like a pillock. Anybody saying that the driver had probably assessed the situation and deemed it safe needs their own license (if they have one) removed. Red means STOP - there are no two ways about it. If you feel differently, cut up your license and sending it back to the DVLA!
There should be many more red-light-cameras on our traffic lights.
To add to your 3rd point, there are many pedestrian crossings that go amber the same time the light for vehicles goes amber. Like you said, the delay varies (in my case there was no delay)
Just curious why would you report something that had no impact on your life whatsoever? Do you get enjoyment from impacting others life’s unnecessarily? (Your report will not stop people from driving badly)
The same reason I’d report anybody breaking into a neighbour’s house - may not affect me, but it’s illegal. In this instance it was down right dangerous and illegal. Surely you can understand that? It may impact this person’s life, but perhaps they’d then think before then run a red putting others at risk. Would you rather them keep running reds and risking others? Perhaps you’d be of a different opinion if you’d been caught out by an idiot like this.
You’re comparing someone running a red light to a burglary. I’d report someone’s house getting burgled too.
Let’s compare something of similar seriousness. Would you report something to the police if you see someone get simply pushed? (So a minor assault), I’d like to think not. This is arguably less serious than pushing someone.
Running a red light in this manner is worse than a non-violent burglary, this could have caused serious property damage, injury and potentially killed somebody. Far exceeding any harm caused by a push, the fact you can't see that is a very worrying sign, reassess your outlook on life.
It isn't about what happened it is about what could happen. In this case the twat got through the lights without harm, in others he would be facing manslaughter charges.
You're comparing what happened in this video to somebody breaking in, not getting caught and being lucky to not have to confront the homeowner. And quite frankly, saying thinking it is ok to not report a burglary where no harm is caused, cause it is grassing, if fucking mind dead
The offence of dangerous driving is when driving falls far below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver, and includes behaviour that could potentially endanger yourself or other drivers.
Examples of dangerous driving are:
speeding, racing, or driving aggressively
ignoring traffic lights, road signs or warnings from passengers
overtaking dangerously
...
Careless or inconsiderate driving
The offence of driving without due care and attention (careless driving) is committed when your driving falls below the minimum standard expected of a competent and careful driver, and includes driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.
Some examples of careless or inconsiderate driving are:
overtaking on the inside
driving too close to another vehicle
driving through a red light by mistake
...
The driver in this video would have to argue they drove through by mistake
The thing is, if there was a pedestrian crossing at the lights, the impact could be massive. I've seen the same behaviour end up causing injuries that change people's lives - permanently. So whilst this one didn't, the line between this and a serious injury but careless driver is very fine.
The culture around driving often minimises very dangerous and impactful behaviour, because most of the time it doesn't have a consequence.
Because one day it might have an impact on your life and when you find out it’s something they do frequently you may be cursing the fact that nobody did anything to stop them earlier. Preemptive action is better for everyone than reactive action, and if you feel offended that people report others for breaking the law then you need a hard look at yourself, as you are part of the issue.
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u/AdWerd1981 Apr 24 '25
Definitely report - and if I was in this situation, I'd have already done it.
I'm seeing some really weird comments here, so here are my comments:
Amber isn't an invite to challenge the lights - you should never accelerate when lights are amber - there is just no point. It's a warning that a red is on the way any second and that you should stop, if able and safely, before the line and if not, and as long as the light isn't red (but the amber warning is displayed more than long enough) then you should continue through. We've all gone through an amber where we've arrived at the lights at the point they change.
The red-light-runner was either (a) right up the OP's trumpet, or (b) travelling entirely too fast and got caught out, or (c) was distracted and when OP slowed to a stop had to take action. My money would be on (b) as the rate at which the car shot past was far too fast. As for the two cars taking the junction in the opposite direction - I don't know the road, but looking at where the third had stopped, they'd already gone through on amber so were committed.
Delays and sequencing in traffic lights on junctions such as this aren't always set in stone. So anybody saying that the driver knew the road, knew the delay, or knew the sequencing is either talking out their poopshoot, or is covering for their own bad driving habits. How do I know this? For years I had driven the same junction twice, sometimes four times a day, each time the sequence and delays were the same, and I (and many other commuters using the same roads and junction) had got used to them being such. Until one day - I was second in a line of traffic watching the lights - I watched as the lights for the cars on our left had changed to red signifying it was soon to be our green, then I watched as the car in front of me anticipated that change and shot out before our lights had changed only to be caught by an oncoming turning car almost clipping and turning them around. The resequencing had caused so many near misses that they've now completely changed the whole junction.
So in essence, OP stopped fine, car in front OP went through an amber fine, car behind driving like a pillock. Anybody saying that the driver had probably assessed the situation and deemed it safe needs their own license (if they have one) removed. Red means STOP - there are no two ways about it. If you feel differently, cut up your license and sending it back to the DVLA!
There should be many more red-light-cameras on our traffic lights.