Drivers stop when a traffic light turns red. this is an example of a

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.

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Traffic light colours and phasing
Traffic light timing – phases and cycles
All-red phase
Red light cameras
Temporary traffic lights
Red lights at fire stations
Emergency vehicles

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.

Some people think it's legal to drive through a yellow light if your front tyres are over the stop line before the light changes to red.

But, that's not the rule.

It's only legal to drive through a yellow light if you are unable to stop safely when the light changes.

You see, the yellow light is not an extension of the green light, it's actually the beginning of the red.

So when you approach traffic lights, you should always be prepared to stop in case the light suddenly changes. And you should check your rear view mirror for vehicles travelling close behind. If the light turns yellow, you must stop if it's safe to do so.

However, if you're so close to the intersection when the light changes that you are unable to stop safely, you are legally allowed to drive through the yellow light.

Now, if the light changes to yellow after you've moved into an intersection waiting to turn right, you are also legally allowed to drive through the yellow light to clear the intersection.

Knowing the rules makes travelling through intersections much safer for everyone.

Australia’s traffic lights conform to international standards, however if you are coming to Australia from another country there may be differences in the phasing to what you are used to.

Traffic light colours and phasing

Traffic lights have the phasing red, green, yellow, red, and this applies whether they are at an intersection or a pedestrian crossing. There is no red plus yellow, and red always means stop (there’s no automatic free turn like there is in America). You must stop at a red light and wait behind the line until it turns green. Even if there is no traffic or the lights haven’t changed because the traffic light induction loop has failed, you must not go through a red light.

At some intersections, you will see a red light with a green turning arrow which permits you to turn in the direction it is pointing. If the turning arrow is red, or there is no arrow at all, you are not allowed to turn.

For example, the traffic light below shows that traffic going straight ahead or turning right must stop. The green filter light to the left means that traffic can turn left, but must give way to any pedestrians that are crossing.

The only time you get a free turn left on a red light is if you see the following sign. You must stop at the line first, though. The image below also shows that the light has turned yellow. A yellow light means you must stop if it is possible to do so.

A green light means you can go straight ahead, turn left (if there are no crossing pedestrians), and turn right (if you give way to traffic coming towards you).

Before you drive through a green light you must make sure there is room for you on the other side of the intersection so that you don’t block traffic. If there is, wait behind the line until it’s clear to go.

A flashing amber arrow means you can proceed, but only if the road you are turning into is clear of pedestrians.

Traffic light timing – phases and cycles

When the light turns yellow you must stop if it’s possible to do so. Therefore the amount of time that a yellow light is displayed is carefully timed depending on the road’s gradient and speed limit in order to give traffic enough time to stop. Too short and some traffic will not be able to stop before the line and will end up driving through a red light; too long and people learn that they can rush through the light, creating a danger then for other shorter-phased yellow lights. The phasing is roughly 1 second per 13kph with most urban intersection yellow phases between four and six seconds.

An entire cycle from red to green to yellow to red is usually between 50 and 150 seconds, although specific cases might fall outside this window.

All-red phase

The all-red phase is when every traffic light at an intersection is red at the same time. This happens for two reasons:

Pedestrians are crossing in all directions and have a dedicated phase
In every phase, there’s a time when all lights are red to give traffic from the previous phase enough time to clear the intersection (i.e. a light doesn’t turn green just because one of the other lights completes its phase and turns red, there’s always some delay).

Traffic signals give vehicles in each road entering the intersection time to proceed. They can work in isolation (common in areas where traffic lights are infrequent, traffic volumes are averagely low and the traffic flow is relatively balanced between all roads), or work in with other signals in the area (common in cities where groups of vehicles need to be shuffled between intersections, or one particular route should be given priority in order to move a large volume of traffic).

If they are isolated then they are controlled by vehicle loop detectors – loops of wire in the road that detect when a vehicle drives over them.

Coordinated signals are controlled by a central processor.

Red light cameras

Red light cameras will trigger if you enter the intersection when the light is red, but not if it is yellow.

Red light running is a problem because it causes accidents. Some drivers deliberately run red lights, while others misjudge the yellow light thinking they have time to get through. Chronic red light running at an intersection implies that something needs to be changed at the intersection. It could be that drivers are frustrated with the phase times, the lights are not easy to see (e.g. they are too low and frequently obscured by heavy vehicles), or the phasing at a previous set of lights encourages drivers to try to race between them.

Changes in phasing to a set of lights can cause temporary problems as drivers that frequently use that intersection get used to the new times. Often a sign will be placed near the intersection warning drivers that the phase has been changed.

Temporary traffic lights

Temporary traffic lights control traffic at roadworks. Stop behind the sign. If you park too far forwards, the sensor that detects you are there and triggers the lights to change might not register your vehicle.