[Curious16]

Hello I’m looking for some advice please.
Yesterday I was approaching roadworks, the light must have just turned red as the cars were still close to me that had gone through. The car in front I had been behind for a while and the way they were driving seemed like they weren’t paying attention.
At the lights a worker was there at the light and it looked like his hand was in a position where he was maybe signalling. The car in front of me stopped and the light was red but they were the temporary ones and as the worker was there in that position I thought maybe they weren’t working so I overtook the car. As I overtook I noticed the worker was actually recording me on his phone, at which point I clocked that he probably wasn’t signalling so I reversed back into place where the other cars were safely and stopped way before the cars were coming the other way as the cars were still in the process of passing the roadworks.. it was a complete misunderstanding on my part.
I’m so so scared now because the worker was recording and he could send it to police.. the works are done by the council I believe so it could also be sent by them. Could this be dangerous driving? Will anything happen?

[TC1474]

Originally Posted by Mark07

Hi @Curious16,

Welcome to the RAC Community.

I can't say for certain, but we do have some community members who have a lot more experience and expertise in these matters.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) has to be issued within 14 days of an offence - so add a couple of days to allow for delays in posting. If nothing happens within that time period, you are likely be fine.

I'm not an expert, but I believe police forces can use mobile phone footage submitted by the public to prosecute driving offences. But perhaps the more pertinent question is; how likely is it that the road worker submits their video to the local constabulary and then how likely is it that they proceed in attempting to prosecute?

I guess you'll like out over the next 2 weeks.

Temporary traffic lights are not subject to an NIP unless the additional offence offence of careless driving is also being considered, but in any case, being temporary traffic lights, they are not subject to points or a ban, only a fixed penalty notice of £100 max.

Permanent ATS are endorsable and are subject to a FPN.

Even if the worker had recorded the offence on his mobile phone (which I doubt) then it is still unlikely that a prosecution or the issue of a FPN will follow as it would not be regarded as being in the public interest.

There are much bigger fish to catch, and most council workers think of themselves as some sort of Orwellian traffic law dictator when in most cases they are themselves the biggest offenders.

So whilst I would never say never, I would not lose too much sleep over your little indiscretion and as @Mark07 says, just keep an eye on the post for the next couple of weeks, but I will be very surprised if anything happens on the back of the word of a council worker but like I said it is only a non endorsable fixed penalty at worst.

[Mark07]

Hi @Curious16,

Welcome to the RAC Community.

I can't say for certain, but we do have some community members who have a lot more experience and expertise in these matters.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) has to be issued within 14 days of an offence - so add a couple of days to allow for delays in posting. If nothing happens within that time period, you are likely be fine.

I'm not an expert, but I believe police forces can use mobile phone footage submitted by the public to prosecute driving offences. But perhaps the more pertinent question is; how likely is it that the road worker submits their video to the local constabulary and then how likely is it that they proceed in attempting to prosecute?

I guess you'll like out over the next 2 weeks.