Failure to comply with road signs/traffic lights

If you have been charged for failing to observe a traffic sign or failing to stop at a traffic light then you should contact keepmedrivingas soon as practicable so that we can advise you of the options which are available to you. This is a very complex area of the law and there are strict rules on the size, colour and placing of traffic signs which may, in certain circumstances, enable you to have a defence to any charges brought.

Failing to comply with road traffic signs is dealt with under section 36 of The Road Traffic Act 1988.

In most cases failure to observe a road sign will, on conviction, result in a fine of up to £1,000. However, if the sign which was not complied with was a Stop or No entry sign then you may also face penalty points on your licence or even be disqualified from driving.

In addition to needing to observe road signs, you are also under a duty to observe any directions to stop or to go into a particular line of traffic given to you by a constable engaged in the regulation of traffic or in connection with a road survey. This is covered in section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. In fact, it is worth bearing in mind that by reason of section 37, even a pedestrian can be guilty of an offence if they fail to follow the instructions of a constable in uniform engaged in the regulation of vehicular traffic in a road.

Prosecutions for traffic light offences tend to be as a result of traffic light cameras capturing the offence, but can occur following their being observed by a police officer.

If you have been stopped or received notice that an offence has taken place then you should contact keepmedriving as a matter of urgency since there may be a defence if, for example, it can be shown that the traffic light camera was incorrectly calibrated.

Should you be found guilty of a traffic light offence then the penalty is three points on your licence and the possibility of a disqualification, depending upon the circumstances.

If you have been charged with any of these offences then please contact keepmedriving either by completing the appropriate online information form which you will find in the Getting Help section, by requesting a free call-back using the free, no-obligation call-back form to the right or by phoning us during office hours on 084 4804 4804