"Helen Deborah Vecht" wrote in message
...
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AIUI you can squeeze past a red light if you think the traffic lights
are out of order. The OP waited five minutes and then had good reason to
believe this was the case.

Regulation 36 (1) (a) of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General
Directions 2002 states that 'the red signal shall convey the prohibition
that vehicular traffic shall not proceed beyond the stop line'. The only
permitted exceptions are where there is one or more green arrow (regs 36 (1)
(f) and (g)) and for emergency vehicles (reg 36 (1) (b)). If you cross the
line against a red light under any other circumstances you have committed an
offence. Showing that the lights had failed might be accepted in mitigation
if you end up in Court as a result of doing so.

Colin Bignell