Secondary traffic lights are there as a back up and to help you see when you are too close to the primary light. In this video I help you recognise the difference between a secondary and primary lights and how to deal with both.
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This video is a guide intended to help people who are learning to drive with a driving instructor in Great Britain, it is by no means a replacement for driving lessons with an appropriately qualified driving instructor.
Laws and driving rules may be different in your country. The makers of this video cannot be held liable for any consequences caused by any information that is in any way inaccurate, misleading or missing. The makers of this video are not liable for any person’s driving other than their own, it is the responsibility of the person driving a vehicle to ensure they drive safely and within the law. The makers of this video are also not liable for any person failing a driving test as a result of the information provided in the video.
00:00 Primary and Secondary Traffic Lights
01:21 Why have Secondary Traffic Lights?
02:21 Secondary Traffic Light Locations
02:47 Don’t Stop Here
04:55 Do Stop Here
06:46 Turning Right Across Traffic
10:07 Wig Wag Traffic Lights
11:18 Temporary Traffic Lights
27 Comments
Should be noted that with wigwags, if they are flashing, no vehicle is permitted to pass them, even emergency vehicles on a blue light run. That’s why they are used instead of normal traffic lights at such locations.
It was surprising how many people would attempt to do this on their driving test. Great explanation
In some places the stop line can be set back some distance from a junction so that stopped vehicles do not block the area swept by long vehicles, such as buses, turning into the road. In one place I know the stop line is 20m back from the crossing road and has the main traffic light next to it. Close to the junction there's a secondary light (where there's also a pedestrian crossing) and also one on the far side of the junction. It's not at all uncommon if traffic turning right is backed up for there to be vehicles waiting between the main light and the pedestrian crossing but they should move on even if the light turns red. On occasion when that happens someone will stop at the first secondary light. If that happens and there's a bus wanting to enter it can't and everything gets jammed up.
Is there any mention of primary and secondary signal traffic control on the highway code?
Actually cleared me up on that cycles box. I always thought cars had no business being in there, ever. Now I know it's allowable if needed to make the stop. Thanks, guvnor!
Question regarding temporary lights: on the rare times you may come to a sign for temporary lights, indicating where to stop before the lights, but you are turning off the road between the lights and the sign, is it legitimately allowed to continue to where you are turning off the road (if safe to do so of course)
I only ask as there's been a ton of roadworks where I live recently and at one point, the sign was before my driveway but the lights were after. In those cases I was passing the sign even when the lights were on red in order to enter my driveway (on the left side of the road so I also wasn't crossing oncoming traffic).
never realised you were based in Colch!
I've never heard of people stopping at secondary lights until now, definitely something to look out for, thanks 🙂
It is simple to understand but for some people it might be confusing in specific situations while driving in busy traffic specially in unknown areas. I totally understand all those confusions because in Europe we don't have one proper traffic lights setting model and basically everything is all over the place. It would be so much easier to follow US standards placing one set traffic lights after junctions each direction it would be simple and visible and everyone could follow the same pattern and most likely less mistakes would happen in my opinion.
Hello,
I have 2 questions regarding crossing red traffic light while reversing slowly due to traffic jam.
I was driving on a 3 lanes road and I was in the lane which is used to turn right.
The traffic light was green when I passed it. But a driver who was in the middle lane came in the same lane I was. And I had to stop in the middle of the junction.
So I’ve decided to go reverse in order to unblock the junction. But by doing so I’ve crossed the red traffic light and I have stopped my car half ahead of the traffic light and half car behind it. There are cameras on the road.
So first question is : is it an offence ? And will I be prosecuted in court for this ?
I will really appreciate your help to understand.
For information Im french driver.
Tell me why at your town there's no tall buildings.?
2:55 rather worryingly, there's a driving instructor on YT who actively teaches their students to stop at the secondary in this scenario, so it's no wonder there's so many bad drivers on the roads these days
What happens if we stop at the secondary lights, will it create an impact on the licence, like will there be any points for stopping at the wrong lights?
Golden information thanks for your helpful video ❤❤
I recently saw someone stop at a secondary light, at a small village cross road, it does amaze me somewhat how you can make such an error but then again everyone makes mistakes
There's a busy light-controlled junction near my office in London (A10/Great Eastern St/Commercial St) where westbound cars approaching from Commercial St and going straight ahead into Great Eastern St often correctly go through both the primary and secondary lights, but then incorrectly carry on though a pedestrian crossing that's so close to the junction that many drivers assume it's just another additional set of lights for the junction (despite the louvres and the white line) and just drive straight through on red. It's incredibly dangerous for pedestrians.
Excellent, informative video. Many thanks.
I remember being horrified as a little child when my parents drove right past another direction's secondary lights on red. Then my parents explained it to me
Our primary lights are on the other side of the intersection, and your primary lights are our nearby lights in the States. Also, we have side mounts lights on primary lights poles.
Imagine stopping in the middle of an intersection.. However, I guess I could see tourists getting confused perhaps. I suppose they're extra nervous about doing something illegal.
Does this REALLY need to be explained? We’re in a heap of trouble if this is the case.
Wow, at 7:11 you say that a red secondary tells you the oncoming traffic also has red. It doesn't. The set you are at has a filter so oncoming traffic gets the red and you get the filter arrow. If you were coming the other way your secondary would go red and the oncoming remains green and gets a filter arrow. This is dangerous advice from a driving instructor. Never assume the colour of oncoming traffic. Always ensure it is stopped or stopping before proceeding into it's path.
Oops! I've been doing something wrong. 😳 Fortunately, I haven't endangered anybody. I've just been repeatedly, obliviously embarrassing myself for years, but that will never happen again!
I think it's also a good idea to stop at the first line, not only to see the light, but also in case somebody with a long trailer turns right from the road to the left. Being further back will make it easier for them, I think.
Why are they called wigwag lights .
This is a peculiar thing in the UK. I haven't seen something like this in other countries.
6.09
The light is green then why the car is stopped.
Plz someone explain
Brilliant video and an excellent explanation. Hats off! Loved it.