Traffic light cameras: what you need to know

A common sight on UK road for over 20 years, traffic light cameras are designed to enforce some of the most important rules of the road and discourage people from driving through red lights. And if you've been caught by a red light camera, you may face a fine or points on your driving licence. 

Here we’ll cover what you need to know – from what triggers the cameras, to what to do if you think you’ve been snapped.

How do red light traffic cameras work?

Modern traffic light cameras are capable of identifying vehicles that ignore red lights and/or exceed the speed limit.

The camera does this by using radar and/or sensors or ground loops embedded in the road. 

It’s an offence for any part of your vehicle to pass the white stop line if a traffic light has turned red. It is also an offence to exceed the speed limit when passing a traffic light.

Some traffic light cameras may give you a small grace period (less than half a second) after the red light appears, while others will take a photo immediately.

All traffic light cameras are designed to improve road safety and the vast majority of red light cameras in the UK are made by Gatsometer.

These Gatso RLC 36 units also have built-in radar technology, with dual speed and red light functions, so for the sake of safety and the law, avoid the temptation to put your foot down when they start to change.

Does every traffic light have a camera?

No, but they are quite common. Usually bigger and busier junctions have red light cameras; if a junction is a bit of an accident-prone area, then they're more likely to be installed as well.

The best advice is just to treat every junction as if there are cameras, and be careful not to disobey the lights or drive over the white lines.

Why do we need red light cameras?

All traffic light cameras are there for our safety. They’re typically installed in high-risk areas, perhaps where someone has previously been injured or an accident has occurred after a red light was run.

At busy junctions and crossings you’ll often also see smaller cameras on top of the lights themselves. These are there to help monitor traffic and congestion on roads, but do not flash for driving offences.

Many temporary traffic lights have cameras to detect vehicles that pass the white stop line after the light has turned red.

Temporary traffic light cameras are put in place to protect drivers and the people who may be undertaking the road works.

Do traffic light cameras flash?

There’s no guarantee you’ll know you’ve been caught immediately, unless the camera unmistakably flashes.

But traffic light cameras don’t always flash like Gatsometer’s more common yellow box speed cameras, so it can be tricky to judge if you made it through in time.

While Gatsometer cameras will produce a distinctive flash whenever taking a photo, newer versions of the Trevulo-D speed cameras – which can also double up as red light cameras – use an infra-red flash which isn’t visible to the driver.

If your car is captured by either, you’ll receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days, once the photo has been reviewed.

What happens if you've been caught by a traffic light camera?

It is an offence to pass the white stop line when the traffic light has turned red or amber. If prosecuted, you will face 3 penalty points and a fine for failing to comply with a red light signal.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) will be sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, asking them to name the offending driver within 28 days.

In most cases, the notice will ask for an admission of guilt and order the payment of a fixed penalty fine in place of taking the case to court.

You’ll also have the right to appeal a penalty notice if you feel you had mitigating circumstances for running a red light.

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• Speed cameras – what you need to know
• What are the main driving offences and their punishments?
• RAC - our work for drivers

What defence can I use to challenge a red light offence?

In all likelihood, very few. As a ‘strict liability’ offence, you won’t get away with simply insisting you ‘didn’t intend’ to run the light, if photographic evidence proves you did.

The only circumstances which may offer a defence include:

• Proving you did not go through the red light
• Proving there was a defect with the light or related signage

Further, special reasons may also be considered by a court and lead to a re-assessment of your punishment.

However, it is unlikely you will be let off for allowing an emergency vehicle to pass.

What's the penalty for running a red light?

Aside from the most important cost – the safety of you and other road users – if caught running a red light you’ll be required to pay a fine.

The current penalty for failing to stop for a red light is usually an £100 fine and three points on your licence. The points will stay on record for four years.

If you fail to sign or respond to a NIP, or provide the details of the correct offending driver if disputed, you could face prosecution, six penalty points and a maximum fine of £1000.

Most constabularies also offer educational courses to motorists who are caught running a red light.

Do you always get points for running a red light?

Three penalty points will usually be imposed on your driving licence if you have failed to comply with a red traffic light signal. However, if the police deem the matter to be particularly serious or dangerous, you may be required to go to court. 

The RAC offers dedicated business breakdown services, as well as specialist products like van breakdown cover and legal expenses insurance

Get complete peace of mind at home and at the roadside with RAC breakdown cover today.