Adrian wrote:

JNugent :

Approaching a set of lights which turn amber just before we reach them
is a very common experience. It is remarkable that there is no ready
case-law on the topic.

There is.

Passing through the lights once they've gone red is an absolute offence.
Passing through the lights at amber is not an offence, but is strongly
discouraged by "best practice", as codified in the Highway Code.

What is so ****ing difficult to comprehend about that?

Well, for one thing, that is not case-law. Case-law is established by judges,
usually on appeal.

The other problem is that you did not re-phrase the "amber phase" part of the
law in full. It contains a legal caveat to the effect that one may pass at
amber, but only if it would be dangerous to stop. I don't believe that the
full meaning of that has ever been properly explained.

If it really means that you can treat amber like green, fair enough. But what
if it doesn't?