Close behind driving too fast, the most complained about piece of driver behaviour is 'trying to beat the red light. Traffic light cameras are only installed at those junctions at which there is a history of injuries being caused by drivers failing to stop at the red light.

There must have been at least 2 crashes causing death or serious injury within the junction in the previous 3 years for cameras to be installed. Cameras are installed within 50m of the junction.

Cameras may only be used where it can be proved that other highways improvement and road safety measures have been tried but have failed significantly to reduce the numbers of crashes and casualties.

The cameras photograph any vehicle that crosses the white Stop line and enters the junction after the amber light changes to red.

There is no special requirement for red light cameras to be conspicuous or visible. Combined red light and speed control safety cameras must comply with the visibility, signing and conspicuity rules for speed control safety camera sites.

The purpose of traffic light safety cameras is to encourage more responsible and safer driver behaviour.

If the lights change to amber as you approach, your objective should be to STOP, not to speed up to try and get across the junction before the waiting traffic starts to move.