What to do if a red light is stuck?

Photo: Getty Images

A pleasant drive can quickly turn frustrating if you get stuck at a red light that just doesn't seem to be changing. No matter how long you sit there, nothing you do is bringing on the green. However, it turns out that there is something that can make certain lights turn green.

Many traffic signals have sensors on top of the lights. They look like cameras but use light and infrared to tell the signal when it's time to change. Sometimes they can get clouded over with dust and dirt though, causing a light to get stuck, but there is a secret hack to fix it from your vehicle.

Most people think that the trick is slowly inching your car forward, but that doesn't do it. And since lights don't have ears, honking your horn is useless. Because the sensor uses light to change, you can use your lights to change it. That's right, by flashing your high beams, you can make certain lights go from red to green. The radiance and heat of your brights might be enough to break through the dirt on a sensor so that it recognizes your car and activates.

A few things to remember though - the trick only works on lights that have the sensor on top of them, and it won't happen if your light just turned red, but if it hasn't changed for a bit, give it a shot. Just keep in mind that when you do, people around you are going to think you are trying to signal something to them and might be confused. Of course, if it works and the light changes, you won't be seeing those people much longer since you'll finally be on your way.

(WYTV) – You pull up to the light at the intersection and the light is red — here’s an opportunity to change the radio station, Look around and wait…and wait…and wait.

You’ve been sitting for half a song and you begin to suspect the light is stuck on red. Can you go through it?
Maybe you can go right on red but how about left?

Those drivers behind you must be thinking, why doesn’t that numbnuts move? Doesn’t he realize the light is stuck? What is the safe move and is it legal?

If the lights are working properly in the other direction and cross traffic is still flowing in front of you, then the electromagnetic sensors embedded in the pavement may not have picked up on your car.

If yours is the only car at the light, back up and drive over the sensors again. It’s worth a try, at least. When you decide you’ve waited long enough and you’re sure there aren’t any other cars around, you can chance it and run the red light.

If you do that, be aware, the police can certainly pull you over. Your best chance is to explain what happened. The officer may check out the light herself to see that you’re correct or she may decide that you were impatient and write up that ticket.

But if cross traffic isn’t flowing either, both lights are probably malfunctioning. Treat it as a four-way stop.

Next time you’re stuck at a stoplight, remember Olya Bogush of Vancouver, Washington. In June 2018, while stuck at a red light near the hospital, she delivered her own daughter in the back seat of a Ford Fusion.

The baby’s father, Yuri Rusakov, had to wait for the light to change, which it eventually did, and he raced to the hospital where the staff ran out to meet them.

Their seven-pound newborn, Adalina, and Olya were both fine.

Red light speed cameras are labelled ‘safety cameras’ but their alternative name is more accurate: they will take your picture if you are speeding at any time (i.e. whether the lights are red, amber or green) or if you run a red light. Red-light speed cameras operate automatically day and night.
You have run a red light if your vehicle crosses the white stop line – which is the first unbroken line if there is a pedestrian crossing area – after the lights have turned red. Sensors under the road and just before the white stop line are timed with the lights to trigger the camera (or cameras). Usually, two photos are taken in quick succession.
As soon as the light turns red, the line becomes active. The red light camera will take a photo when an active line is crossed. The State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) reviews all images and will only take action where it is clear that you have crossed the white line on a red light.
The cameras record the date and time of the offence, the location, the direction you were travelling, the speed you were doing, the speed limit that applies and the lane you were travelling in. Basically, it’s a photo that can be used as evidence. Oh, and don’t forget that they can (or should be able to) clearly see your number plate.

There are 201 red light speed cameras in New South Wales. You can find a full list of red-light speed camera locations here. They are installed at intersections that are identified as having a high crash risk, either through a known crash history or the potential for serious crashes. The locations are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Does the whole vehicle or just part of it need to travel beyond the white stop line after the red light appears to trigger the camera?

The rear wheels need to be past the line before the red light comes on to avoid triggering the camera. The camera is not triggered by vehicles crossing the stop line on yellow (amber) or green lights.

What if I entered the intersection on a yellow (amber) light?

Revenue NSW reviews all images and will only take enforcement action when it is clear that a vehicle has proceeded through a red light at an intersection.

How do I appeal the infringement?

If you receive a speed camera infringement, you can look up the details of your alleged misdemeanour on the SDRO website – the information required will be on your infringement notice. Once there, you should be able to view or download a copy of the actual photo taken that is being used as evidence for your penalty.

If you think the fine was issued unjustly, you can request a review. Three things could then happen:

The penalty will stand, meaning that the offence was proven and you will either have to pay the fine or elect to have the matter decided in court.
You could receive a caution, whereby the SDRO believes that the penalty notice was issued correctly but based on a clean driving record of over 10 years or special evidence you have provided they will let you off this time (no fine or points) but the caution will be recorded on your driving history.
It will be cancelled with no fines or points as the SDRO believes the penalty notice was issued in error or does not sufficiently disclose the offence.

NRMA Members who need more advice can have a chat to one of our motoring advice specialists on 13 11 22. If further legal action is required, always seek the advice of a solicitor or a professional legal service.

Q: While driving in Redlands recently, reader Joe Nottingham of Beaumont said he sat through three traffic light cycles at the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and Cypress Avenue and did not get a green arrow to make a left turn. Finally, on the fourth cycle, when he saw that opposing traffic had a green arrow to turn, and there was no oncoming traffic, our reader made his left through the fourth red arrow. “I can’t speak to what the others behind me did, but over the years I have seen others do the same thing after several cycles left them sitting,” he said. Nottingham asked what drivers are supposed to do legally when their light doesn’t turn green cycle after cycle.

A: This does happen occasionally when signals at an intersection are not working properly.

We ran this scenario by California Highway Patrol Officer Dan Olivas, of the Inland Division, who said there’s no good answer, but he offered some helpful suggestions. “If you’re stuck, obviously you’re not going to sit there all day until it fixes itself because it’s not going to fix itself. The best thing you can do is safely get yourself out of that situation,” he said. If the arrow turn light is not cycling property and there are cars behind you, you may just have to turn through the red arrow, he said, or if possible, when the light is green to go straight, go straight if you can safely do that. “You want to be safe about it and get yourself out of that situation as long as you are not driving in someone’s path,” Olivas advised. If you get stopped by a police officer for running the red arrow, Olivas said to explain the situation to the officer and ask the officer to wait and see for himself or herself that the traffic arrow is broken. If you do get a ticket, go back to the intersection and take a video to get proof the turn arrow is broken, and contest the ticket in court, Olivas suggested. It also might be a good idea to report the broken traffic light to the city.

Q: Phil Wells of Murrieta asked us to explain the single and double white and yellow lines on local freeways.

A: The California Driver’s Handbook explains lane markings under a section called “Lane Control,” and we also ran this by Olivas for clarity.

Here’s a rundown, in a nutshell: A single solid white line indicates traffic is flowing in the same direction. Double white lines act as a barrier between a regular driving lane and a preferential use lane, such as the carpool/HOV lane. You are not supposed to change lanes while in these lanes, you have to wait until you see the broken white lines, which indicate the areas where drivers can enter or exit a carpool lane from the regular traffic lane. Solid yellow lines mark the center of a road used for two-way traffic. If you see broken yellow lines, this means you can pass but only if the broken line is next to your driving lane. Double yellow lines act as a “do not cross” barrier, so no passing. On California freeways, diamond lanes are marked by double white or double yellow lines, meaning you can’t drive in and out of the diamond lane unless the lines are broken.

Q: Lorna Burckel, who lives in Yucaipa, often drives her neighbor to the doctor or grocery store. The neighbor has a disabled parking placard and Burckel asked if she can legally use it while driving this neighbor.

A: The answer is yes. Those who serve as drivers for disabled folks with handicapped parking placards may use their placard but only if the placard’s owner is present too, or in a reasonable proximity of the driver or caretaker. So, basically, if you are transporting a disabled person, you can use their parking placard if the disabled person is with you or close by. It doesn’t matter which vehicle you are in, theirs or yours. What you can’t do is use their placard while driving alone, or drop off the person and then go out and use their disabled parking placard without them. That would be considered fraud by the Department of Motor Vehicles and could lead to penalties if caught.

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