Road safety: traffic lights

Mr CLARK (Box Hill) — I raise with the Minister for Roads and Ports the issue of the manner in which traffic lights are returned to full operation after they have been in flashing light mode and the way in which the return to full operation is coordinated with traffic light cameras. I ask the minister to look at changing these arrangements to ensure that motorists are not incorrectly issued with infringement notices if they happen to be about to enter an intersection when traffic lights return to full operation.

Recently a constituent approached me after she was issued with an infringement notice alleging failure to obey traffic lights.

The facts were that a number of traffic lights in the area where she was driving had been on flashing amber at the time and that as my constituent approached a set of flashing lights the lights turned to red just as she reached the intersection, with no time for her to stop.

My constituent’s initial application for internal review was rejected, but she persevered and obtained written documentation from VicRoads confirming that the traffic lights in question were out of operation from approximately 11.19 a.m. to 12.18 p.m. on the day in question, apparently due to a power failure, and a letter from CitiPower confirming that there was a power supply interruption to the relevant traffic lights on that day between 11.20 a.m. and 12.19 p.m. The approximate time of offence shown on the infringement notice was 12.19 p.m.

I am pleased to say that Victoria Police accepted this additional evidence and withdrew the infringement notice, and I thank it for that.

However, it should not require hours of work and determination by an individual citizen to clear her name. Traffic lights and traffic cameras should not be set up in such a way that the instant a flashing traffic light returns to normal the light goes to red and a traffic camera is triggered on an unsuspecting motorist. There would seem to be several ways in which the problem could be solved. Lights could be set to return to a period of steady amber before they change to red, or traffic cameras could be set either to not trigger on the first red light or else to record that the red light in question was the first red displayed after lights returned to normal operation.

Whatever the best solution, a solution should be readily available, and I ask the minister to take up this issue and act to have the manner of operation of traffic lights and/or traffic cameras altered so that other innocent citizens are not put in the unfortunate and distressing circumstances that my constituent faced of being unjustly issued with an infringement notice when she had been driving sensibly, responsibly and in accordance with the law.

Title Road safety: traffic lights
House ASSEMBLY
Activity Adjournment
Members CLARK
Date 7 February 2008
Page 235