DRIVERS have been left divided by dash cam footage appearing to show cyclists running a red light – but who is in the wrong?
The video was posted on social media by Surrey Police’s Vanguard road safety team, sparking intense debate.
Twitter / @SurreyRSPolice released a video appearing to show cyclists running a red light[/caption]
Twitter / @SurreyRSMany on social media applauded the handing out of £50 fines to each[/caption]
In the clip, four cyclists can be seen past the stop line on a main road while the lights are on red.
The group then turns right onto a side street, taking advantage of the fact that the oncoming traffic has been stopped.
The cops’ tweet read: “VanguardRST stopped these 4 cyclists in Esher after they were observed contravening a red traffic light.
“FPN’s [Fixed Penalty Notices] issued to all.”
Running a red light can attract a minimum fine of £50, as well as three points on your licence if you drive a car.
This can be bumped up to £1,000 and six points in more serious cases.
And while many might not be aware, cyclists can also be sanctioned despite not having to be registered or licenced to use the road.
The lack of licencing requirements mean that bicycles can often exist in a legal grey area as they are allowed to use the road and are bound by the Highway Code but are also allowed to use public footpaths and areas inaccessible to motors as well.
Some commenters were delighted with the actions of the police team, saying it was a commonly observed issue.
One wrote: “It’s about time, too I see cyclists going through red traffic lights all the time or jumping onto the footpath and back onto the road again to bypass the traffic lights.”
Another added: “More policing of rule-breaking cyclists and visibility of it will hopefully 1) cut down on it and 2) dismantle the perception that we’re all law breakers who get away with it.
“I stop at every red.”
However, not everyone was so convinced, with many rushing to the group’s defence.
Many of the complaints centred on the fact that the dash cam video only shows the cyclists after they had passed the lights and were turning right.
Those defending them pointed out that the footage does not actually show them running the light and demanded that the full video be released for context.
Given that we don’t know what happened before the cyclists passed the stop line, it is possible that the lights had not changed at that point and that they were waiting in the right-hand turning lane until the lights changed.
One sympathetic commenter raged: “If they weren’t already over the line when the light changed to red, how come the car behind them is already up to the stop line?.”
And a second chimed in: “It would be nice if the video showed an offence, since the way that junction works is for traffic to sit in the right lane past the white line at which point they are free to turn even on red.”
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said “Officers from the Vanguard Road Safety Team were in an unmarked police car on Copsem Lane travelling towards Esher Town on 13 January 2024.
“At 08.40 am, 4 cyclists continued in lane 1 with unmarked directly behind where the officers observed the cyclists contravene the red traffic light in lane 1, failing to stop at the solid white stop line.
“They continued through, moving across in front of the waiting traffic in lane 2. Traffic lights were still red when they crossed. The cyclists then turned right where the unmarked followed and stopped them.
“The cyclists were warned of their vulnerability and that they put themselves in danger of a collision and injury.
“All were issued with a £50 fixed penalty ticket for ‘contravention of a red traffic light’ and given suitable safety advice for the future.”
Twitter / @SurreyRSHowever, some argued that the clip did not show the alleged offence itself[/caption]